ENGLISH GRAMMAR

FOR

SCHOOLS

CIDRECK MASTER MACHESO

Prepared and published by

Cidreck Master Macheso

Chimvuu 1 Primary School

PO Box 60

Mvumba - Monkey Bay

Mangochi

Cell : 0995 734 221 / 0884 151 438

book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written

permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or

reviews.

This book is a work of Cidreck Master Macheso a Primary School teacher at

Chimvuu 1 Catholic Primary School, Thema Zone in Mangochi District. Before the

current station, the officer has worked at Katundu LEA School, Mlomba Zone;

Chimwankhwazi Catholic Primary School, Machinga Boma Zone and then at

Chikala II Catholic Primary School, Puteya Zone in Machinga District.

Names, characters, businesses, organisations, places, events and incidents either are

the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to

actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Printed by

Cidreck Master Macheso

C/O Post Office Box 33

Mwalasi

Machinga

Phone : 0995 734 221 / 0885 151 438

E-mail : cmkmacheso2@gmail.com

Cover design by Cidreck Master Macheso

Book design and layout by Cidreck Master Macheso

First edition published May, 2019.

CONTENTS

UNIT 1 : ARTICLES…………………………………………………………………....……….1

UNIT 2 : VERB TENSES………………………..………………………..……..……….……4

UNIT 3 : ORDER OF ADJECTIVES………………………………………………….….10

UNIT 4 : NUMBER AND PERSONS……………………………………………..…....12

UNIT 5 : NOUN FORMATION………………………………………….……………....16

UNIT 6 : SYNONYMS…………………………………………………………………...…..20

UNIT 7 : WORD DISTINCTION (COLLOCATION)…………………….………..23

UNIT 8 : ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICES………………………………….………..33

UNIT 9 : QUESTION TAGS AND SHORT RESPONSES…….………..…..…..35

UNIT 10 : DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH…………………………………....…..40

UNIT 11 : SOME CONJUCTIONS………………………...………………………..……44

UNIT 12 : TYPES OF SENTENCES……………………………………………………….47

UNIT 13 : MEANING OF SENTENCES……………………………….………………..49

UNIT 14 : SUBORDINATE CLAUSES………………………………….....…………….54

UNIT 15 : CONDITIONAL TENSES AND CONDITIONAL SENTENCES...64

UNIT 16 : PREPOSISTIONS…………………………………………………….…………..66

UNIT 17 : PHRASES………………………………………………………….…………..…....71

UNIT 18 : PHRASAL VERBS……………………………………………………....…….....75

UNIT 19 : GROUPS OF PHRASAL VERBS…………………………………....……...88

GROUP 1 : DIRECTIONS……………………………….88

GROUP 2 : SPECIAL MEANINGS…………………..92

GROUP 3 : METAPHORICAL DIRECTIONS…….95

GROUP 4 : RANDOM PARTICLES…………….......97

GROUP 5 : OTHER PARTICLES……………………..98

UNIT 20 : REGISTERS…………………….…………………………................................99

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There are two types of articles, namely:

1. Indefinite articles i.e. „a‟ and „an‟

2. Definite articles i.e. „the‟

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLES

These are used only before singular countable nouns.

The indefinite article is used

1. With the meaning one, any

For example:

a. I have a sister and two brothers.

b. The animals came in two at a time.

2. In certain expressions of measurement

For example;

a. He drove the car at ninety kilometres an hour.

b. We have lessons three times a week.

3. Before unit, hundred, thousand, million.

For example:

a. There is a unit of eggs here.

b. A hundred sheep were in the field.

4. Before singular predicative nouns denoting a profession, trade,

religion, class etc.

For example:

a. George wants to be an engineer.

b. Mary‟s father is an officer.

c. You ought to call him a fool.

d. He was a Muslim not a Christian.

5. It is used to refer to a person known only as a name.

For example:

a. A Mr Ligo called to see you when you were out.

The „A‟ means you have no idea who he is, but he said his name is Mr Ligo.

6. With the meaning same in proverbs and certain fixed expressions.

For example:

a. Birds of a feather flock together. (same feather)

b. They were much of a size. (of the same size)

ARTICLES

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7. Before a noun in apposition when the thing or person is assumed to be

unfamiliar.

For example:

a. Mzuzu a small city in Malawi is in Mzimba.

b. Romeo and Juliet, a play by Shakespeare is very interesting.

8. In exclamatory sentences introduced by ‘what’ where countable or

uncountable. The definite article is used.

For example:

a. What a day!

b. What a pretty girl!

c. What a foolish thing to do!

THE DEFINITE ARTICLES

This is used before singular or plural nouns whether countable or uncountable.

The definite article is used:

1. Before a noun that is to be particularized by a defining relative clause.

For example;

a. This is the book that I promised to lend you.

2. Meaning ‘the only one’

For example:

a. The Bible, the Lord.

b. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

3. Meaning the one we have just spoke about.

For example:

Once upon a time there was a little boy who lived in a cottage.

The cottage was in the country and the boy had lived there all his life.

4. Before a noun which is followed by defining prepositional phrase.

For example:

a. The road to Lilongwe

b. The fourteenth of April

c. The house with green shutters.

5. Before ordinals in titles.

For example: Queen Elizabeth II (Queen Elizabeth the Second)

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6. Before a common noun followed by a proper noun which identifies it.

For example: The planet Mercury, the poet Jackson, the Play „Romeo and

Juliet‟

Nouns expressing trades or professions often follow the proper noun; they are

preceded by „the‟

For example

Jackson the butcher, Mr Wines, the General Manager, Jane the doctor.

7. Before name of the country that is a union of smaller entities.

For example: The United Kingdom, The USSR

Before the name of the country that is plural in form

For example: The Netherlands, The United States of America

8. Before groups of Islands

For example: The West Indies, The Hebrides, The Bahamas

9. Before the names of rivers, chains of mountains and oceans.

For example: The Nile River, The Andes Mountains, The Atlantic Ocean

10. Before superlatives used attributively (to describe it)

For example: This is the oldest building in Lilongwe

Sometimes before superlatives are used adverbially.

For example: I like Shakespeare but it is modern drama that is interesting me

the most.

11. Before adjectives used as nouns denoting a whole class.

For example: The rich should help the poor.

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

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VERB TENSES

There are mainly three types of tenses namely; Past Tense, Present Tense and Future

Tense.

A. THE PAST TENSE

1. The Past Simple Tense

This tense is used to express actions which took place in the past.

For example:

1) I bought this shirt last year.

2) I leaved here long time ago.

3) I was born in 1970.

It is used in polite requests and to express wishes.

For example:

1) I wish I knew where he is.

2) I wanted to speak to you.

3) Did you want to see him?

It may also be used in conditional clauses (unlikely conditions).

For example:

1) If I wrote my father today, he would receive the letter tomorrow.

2) I would write to him if I knew his address.

3) If he came he would find out the truth of the story.

2. The Past Continuous Tense

This tense is used to show that an activity was happening at a time when another

activity occurred.

For example:

1) When I was going to school, I met Mr Gama.

2) Was it raining when the accident occurred?

3) She ran after me as I was crossing the street.

It may also be used to indicate that a number of activities were taking place at the

same time.

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For example:

1) James was sewing while Jane was cutting the grass.

2) Jimmy was cleaning the window and James was cutting the grass.

3) While Jacqueline was ploughing, Jane was milking the cows.

3. The Past Perfect Tense

This tense is used to show that out of two activities which took place in the past,

one happened before the other.

For example:

1) He had already left when I arrived.

2) At six o‟clock, he had finished writing letters.

3) We came to Malawi because we had heard so much about it

It is also used to indicate the continuation of an activity up to a certain time in

the past.

For example:

1) I had been in the teaching service for sixteen years by the time Mr Phiri

retired.

2) In 1999 Mr Banda had been in marriage for ten years

3) When I first met him, he had lived in Malawi for two years.

4. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense.

This tense is used to indicate that a continuous activity had not been complete

before another activity took place at some later period

For example:

4) When I came to the school in 2009, Mr Salamba had been teaching for

five years.

5) When I first met him, he had been studying for a degree.

6) When it started raining, she had been preparing the last bed.

Exercise

Join each pair of sentences to make one sentence. Use a verb in the past continuous

tense in the first part of the sentence, followed by a verb in the simple past tense in

the second part of the sentence.

For example:

He wrote a letter. I saw him.

He was writing a letter when I saw him.

1) I worked in the garden. The telephone rang

2) The man ran for the bus. He fell down.

3) We had supper. He arrived.

4) I went to the stadium. I met him.

5) The fire burned. I passed the house.

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B. THE PRESENT TENSE

1. Simple Present Tense

This tense is used to express the habitual actions.

For example

1) They live in Mchinji.

2) The girl goes to school at 7:00 a.m.

3) John always walks to school.

It is also used to express general truths.

For example:

1) The sun rises in the east.

2) Water boils at 100

o

Celsius.

3) Oil floats on water.

It may also be used to express a present activity immediately completed.

For example:

1) I pronounce you man and wife.

2) I declare the meeting open.

3) I name this road Chilambula Higway.

It is also used to express future actions which have been decided upon.

For Example:

1) School starts on Monday.

2) He leaves for London next month.

3) Frank goes to Lusaka tomorrow.

2. The Present Continuous Tense

The continuous tense indicates duration. This indicates that the activity is still

going on at the time of speaking

For example:

1) I am going to school.

2) They are singing and dancing.

3) The man is working in the garden.

It is also used to express an action which is happening in the near future.

For example:

1) I am going home this afternoon.

2) What are you waiting for here?

3) Where are you spending your next holidays?

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3. The Present Perfect Tense

This tense may be used to express an action that has just been completed but

which still has current relevance.

For example:

1) I have written a letter to my sister.

2) I have finished my work.

3) He has cut his finger.

4. The Present Perfect Progressive Tense

This tense may be used to indicate the duration of an activity which is still

considered incomplete.

For example:

1) I have been studying this book for two weeks

2) We have been studying French for two years

3) She has been waiting to see you for some time.

It may also be used to indicate an activity which is regarded as only recently

completed.

For example:

1) I have been spending a few days at home.

2) These teachers have been attending a refresher course.

3) The team has been training hard for the competition.

Exercise

Complete the following sentences by using the present perfect tense form of the verb

in brackets.

a. I (wear) this shirt for two days and I am wearing it now.

b. The children (be) a sleep for eight hours and they are still sleeping.

c. John‟s shoes are very tidy. He (not clean) them for a week.

d. The thief is in prison. He (be) in prison for five months.

e. I (eat) nothing for six hours, but I am still not hungry.

f. The doctor is very busy, and he (not have) a holiday for two years.

Change the following sentences into the present continuous tense.

a. James walks to school.

b. It rains.

c. I write on the chalk board.

d. They speak to the farmer

e. The shopkeeper ties up the parcel.

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C. THE FUTURE TENSE

1. The Simple Future Tense

This tense is used to indicate future activities.

For example:

1) I shall be forty tomorrow.

2) The goods will be here in few days.

The simple future tense is also used in the main clause of a conditional sentence

(open condition)

For example:

1) If you go out in the rain, you will get wet.

2) I am sure they will come if you ask them.

3) He will lend it to you if you ask him.

2. The Future Continuous Tense

This tense is used to express an activity which will begin before and

continue after a given period of time in the future.

For example:

1) His friends will be waiting at the bus stop to welcome him.

2) We shall be travelling all night.

3) After the rain we shall be enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

4) They will be expecting us home soon.

3. The Future Perfect tense

It is used to express an activity which will have been completed by a certain

time in the future.

For example:

1) In 2014, Malawi will have been independent for fifty years.

2) I shall have finished this work by four O‟clock.

3) My brother will have come by the time you arrive.

4) By this time next year, Jane will have taken her University Degree.

4. The Future Perfect Progressive Tense

It is used to refer to an activity which extends from the past, through the

present into the future.

For example:

1) By the time we arrive he will have been waiting for many hours.

2) When Jacqueline gets her degree, she will have been studying at

Chancellor College for four years

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Exercise

Change the following sentences to the future continuous tense.

1) I am walking to school.

2) He is feeling excited.

3) They are having dinner.

4) I am thinking about you

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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ORDER OF ADJECTIVES

When we have a chain of adjectives qualifying one noun, the following table shows

the pattern in which the adjectives should be ordered.

UNDERSTANDING DOSASCOMUN THEORY

Determiner

Opinion

Size

Age

Shape

Colour

Origin/

Nationality

Material

Use or

purpose

Noun

D

O

S

A

S

C

O

M

U

N

From the table given above, it shows that given a noun with a chain of adjectives

qualifying it:

a. The adjectives which should come immediately before the noun is a purpose (use

or classifying) adjective.

This is an adjective which singles out one particular thing out of many of the

same.

For example, in hunting knife, „hunting‟ is a classifying adjective because it

singles one particular knife out of many knives like kitchen or eating knife.

b. The adjective to come before the „use‟ should be a noun adjective or adjective

from materials.

For example, Chicken feed, Silk cloth, Pine tree, Golden ring.

c. Then before these adjectives are those of origin.

These are adjectives like Malawian lady, Japanese car and American radio.

d. Before adjectives of origin are those of colour.

Examples include red carpet, blue shirt, brown sugar.

e. Before adjectives of colour come those of shape.

These are adjectives like circular, oval, square, rectangle among others.

f. Before adjectives of shape come adjectives of age.

These include old, new, ancient and modern.

g. Before this set of adjectives come adjectives of size.

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These include big, small, tiny and huge. Adjectives of weight also fall under the

adjectives of size.

For example, heavy and light.

h. Determiners come before adjectives of opinion.

These include the, some, a and an.

Examples in Sentences

1. She has given us an oval brown Chinese wooden box.

2. The boy has a beautiful modern small red Asian silk travelling bag.

Exercise

Complete the following sentences by arranging the given adjectives in a correct

order.

1. I like my ___________________________________ car (American, large, grey)

2. We have received a _____________________teacher. (young, fat, Mathematics)

3. Richard has carried ___________________ box. (an old, brown, square, wooden)

4. Lonely has ________________________ dress. (new some, Asian, green cotton)

5. My brother in law wants _________ spear. (an ancient, ceremonial, heavy, Ngoni)

6. This is a(n) ____________________________ horse. (big, old, white, Arab, race)

7. I wish you a _______________________________ holiday. (nice, summer, long)

8. Our school has purchased a ______________ machine (duplicating, modern, large)

9. Please wash this ___________________ carpet. (beautiful, multicolored, squared)

10. Enelesi cooked a ________________________ soup. (hot, vegetable, delicious)

11. Jacqueline has stolen a _____________ dress. (cheap, yellow, cotton, Malawian)

12. Macdonald has worn a __________ jacket. (brown, leather, modern, Japanes)

NOTES

__________________________________________________________________

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NUMBER AND PERSONS

Number in verbs refers to the form of a verb which indicates whether its subject is

singular or plural.

1. A subject in the singular is followed by a verb in singular.

For example:

a) She was present.

b) Jane has gone.

2. A subject in the plural is followed by a verb in the plural.

For example:

a) They were present.

b) The girls have gone.

3. A verb must agree with its subject in person and number.

For example:

a) He always works hard. (Third person singular subject and third person

singular verb)

4. When two or more subjects are connected by “and,” the verb is plural.

For example:

a) John and Jane are pupils.

b) Joseph and Jessie have already eaten.

5. When two singular nouns are connected by “and” form a unit, or are considered

as one thing, the singular verb is used.

For example:

a) Bread and butter is eaten at most meals.

b) Cassava and egg is a popular breakfast.

6. The words “every,” “either,” “neither” “each” are singular and are followed by

singular verb.

For example:

a) Has either of the girls gone?

b) Neither of the girls has gone.

c) Each of the pupils was given a book.

d) Every member of the team is fit..

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7. When the word pairs either or neither – nor is used in a sentence the verb agrees

with the nearest subject.

For example:

a) Either you or he is expected to assist.

b) Either Jacqueline or you are likely to be chosen.

c) Neither James nor I am eligible for this post.

d) Neither Joshua nor you have been invited.

8. If two subjects connected by or or nor differ in number and person, the verb

agrees with the nearer subject.

For example:

a) Either a laboratory or classrooms are to be built.

b) Either classrooms or a laboratory is to be built.

c) Either the pupils or the teacher is responsible for the damage.

d) Neither Jonathan nor his classmates have succeeded in solving the

problem.

9. If two subjects joined by “and” are preceded by the word “every,” the verb is

singular.

For example:

a) Every desk, drawer and bookshelf was searched.

b) Every classroom and lecture theatre is occupied.

10. When the subjects are connected by with, as well as, in addition to, the verb

takes the number and person of the subject which stands first.

For example:

a) He with his brothers is responsible for that.

b) I as well as you am included in this invitation.

c) The players in addition to their captain were involved in the fight.

11. The word “none‟ is generally plural: „no one‟ is singular.

For example:

a) No one was ready.

b) None of them was ready.

c) None of them has been lost since you last counted them.

d) No one is likely to be absent from the examination.

12. Words denoting sums of money or quantities such as lengths, weights and so on,

are considered as units and take singular verbs.

For example:

a) Twenty kwacha was all I had.

b) Ten months is a long time to wait.

c) Ninety kilometres is a long distance.

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13. In a compound subject (a subject which contains two or more nouns or pronouns

as subjects of a verb), if one subject is in the affirmative and the other is in the

negative, the verb agrees with the subject which is in the affirmative.

For example:

a) She not I is at fault.

b) Praise, not Mafuno or Mulinganji, deserves to be congratulated for this

work.

Exercise

A. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct word from the

alternatives given in brackets.

1. The cabinet (has, have) agreed on its decision.

2. Neither Glory nor her parents (is, are) fond of sweets.

3. Each of the men (is, are) carrying an axe.

4. (Has, have) either of the pupils turned up?

5. None (has, have) yet replied to my invitation.

6. The majority of the people in the audience (was, were) whistling and

stamping their feet.

7. A few (is, are) here.

8. Neither (is, are) looking at me.

9. The hat and the coat (is, are) mine.

B. Choose the action linking word which agrees with performer or subject

in each of the following sentences.

1. Not only the husband (but also/also/when) the wife was sick.

2. My friend and school mate, Mr Edwin, (are/is/being) going with me.

3. Nothing (makes/make/making) me happier than writing.

4. Everyone (are/is/have) here today.

5. I don‟t have (nothing/anything/something).

6. I am hungry, but there isn‟t (any/some/no) food left.

7. She has (not/no/have) power.

8. Knowledge (is/are/have) power.

9. Physics (are/is/have) the science of facts.

10. The children in the kitchen (is/are) hatching.

11. There are four (sheeps/sheep/sheep‟s) in the field.

12. I am (use/be used/used to) cold weather in Mzuzu.

13. The sun (raises/rise/rises/rose) in the east.

14. I‟m in the reading room, (aren‟t/am/are) I?

15. You won‟t come here, (will/would/will not) she?

16. She rarely drinks coffee, (did/does/doesn‟t) she?

17. You‟ve had your dinner, (haven‟t/had/have/hadn‟t) you?

18. They didn‟t see me, (did/do/don‟t/are) they?

19. A number of them (are/have/is) black people.

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20. Anyone (are/is) responsible for his/her own action.

21. All of the books (have/has/are) been stored somewhere.

22. A man (is/are) in the waiting room.

23. Many men (are/is) in the waiting room.

NOTES

________________________________________________________________

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NOUN FORMATION

Many nouns ending with –ion or –ment are sometimes formed from verbs.

A. Form nouns ending in –ion, from the following:

Add Addition

Attract Attraction

Connect Connection

Decide Decision

Destroy Destruction

Expel Expulsion

Oppose Opposition

Receive Reception

Recognise Recognition

Satisfy Satisfaction

Subtract Subtraction

B. Form nouns ending in –ation from the following:

Admire Admiration

Apply Application

Aspire Aspiration

Concentrate Concentration

Expect Expectation

Hesitate Hesitation

Imagine Imagination

Organise Organisation

Pronounce Pronunciation

Qualify Qualification

C. Form nouns ending in –ment from the following:

Advertise Advertisement

Agree Agreement

Argue Argument

Arrange Arrangement

Employ Employment

Excite Excitement

Improve Improvement

Procure Procurement

Replace Replacement

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RECOGNISING SINGULAR AND PLURAL SUBJECTS

Countable Without Plural Forms

The words deer, fish and sheep do not have plural forms. We say two deer, three fish

and four sheep.

For example:

Wrong: Nine sheeps are in the field.

Right: Nine sheep are in the field.

Some nouns have no singular forms and always give singular meanings.

a. Nouns used with singular verb form.

For example: News Physics Billiards Mathematics Politics Measles

b. Nouns not used with singular verb form.

For example: People Scissors Trousers Clothes Eye-glasses

Wrong: My eye-glasses is broken

Right: My eye glasses are broken

The Plural Form of Compounds

a. Noun + Prepositional Phrase, pluralise the first element of the

compound if the element is a noun.

For example:

SINGULAR PLURAL

Man-of-war Men-of-war

Commander-in-chief Commanders-in-chief

Father-in-law Fathers-in-law

Justice-in-peace Justices-in-peace

b. Noun + Adjective, pluralise the first element

For example:

Postmaster-general Postmasters-general

Teacher-in-charge Teachers-in-charge

Officer-cadet Officers-Cadet

c. Noun + Adverb, pluralise the first element.

For example:

Passer-by Passers-by

Looker-on Lookers-on

Runner-up Runners-up

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d. If the final element of a compound is a noun, put it in plural form.

For example:

Horseman Horsemen

Woman-hater Woman-haters

Washer-man Washer-men

Toothpick Toothpick

e. Nouns denoting weight and measurement are generally in the plural

when it is a question for more than one.

For example:

Two pounds Twenty Miles

One and Half hours Five feet

Hundred tones 1.5 Metres

However, terms of measurement when immediately followed by a term of smaller

measurement are often in the singular than the plural.

1. Incorrect: He stands six feet high.

Correct: He stands six foot high

2. Incorrect: She bought a three years old house.

Correct: She bought a three year old house.

3. Incorrect: It weighs five pounds ten

Correct: It weighs five pound ten.

The numerical noun-hundred, thousand, million dozen, score have a regular plural

form when they do not follow an indication of number.

For example:

1. I have dozens of pencils.

2. There were thousands of people in the street.

3. She paid hundreds of dollars.

However, the singular is used after numerals as in the following sentences:

1. I have two dozen of pencils.

2. There were three thousand people in the street.

3. He sold me nine scores of eggs.

4. She paid five hundred dollars.

EXERCISE

Form the correct noun from the word in brackets in each sentence.

1. The woman showed much (appreciate) for the present.

2. The driver did not obey the (instruct) to stop.

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3. To my (amaze), I passed the test.

4. (Accommodate) is very difficult to find in large cities.

5. The (distribute) of books was done by the regional offices.

6. Many accidents are a result of the poor (judge) of road users.

7. The (announce) of higher prices disappointed the shoppers.

8. The (cancel) of the night train inconvenienced many passengers.

9. The (form) of the new party took many people by surprise.

NOTES

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SYNONYMS

These are words with similar meanings. A word may have several words with similar

meanings but one will be the best equivalent depending on the context in which a

particular word occurs. One word will be the best equivalent depending on the

context in which a particular word occurs. „Opponent‟ can have several words with

similar meanings like „enemy‟ „foe‟ „adversary‟ and „competitor‟

Examples of synonyms

WORD SYNONYM

Abandon Forsake, desert

Abundant Ample, plenty

Active Diligent, energetic, alert

Ally Colleague, helper, partner

Bad Evil, Wicked, devilish

Beautify Adorn, decorate

Beg Request, implore

Behaviour Conduct, demeanour

Big Large, huge, gigantic, enormous

Brave Courageous, fearless, daring

Bright Clear, Shiny, Transparent, Intelligent

Brittle Frail, Fragile

Candid Frank, straight forward, out spoken, open

Catch Capture, seize, arrest, apprehend

Cause Reason, purpose; motive

Clever Versatile, ingenious

Confess Admit

Conflict Strife, Contention, struggle

Conquer Defeat

Cross Fretful

Cruelty Harshness, oppression

Dangerous Risky, hazardous

Decrease Reduce, diminish, lessen, dwindle

Destroy Demolish

Disaster Misfortune, calamity, catastrophe

Disfigure Mar, deface, injure

Dishonest Unjust, deceitful, deceptive

Disorder Confusion, chaos

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Disseminate Diffuse, Broadcast

Dull Gloomy, unintelligent

Eager Keen

Eat consume, devour

Eject Expel, Emit, Cast

Elevate Raise, lift, improve

Emancipate Free, liberate, release

Enough Adequate, sufficient

Enquire Seek, search, investigate, explore, trace, examine

Entire Whole, total

Eradicate Exterminate, eliminate, destroy

Eternal Perpetual, infinite, ceaseless

Exaggerate Magnify, heighten, enlarge, amplify

Excess Surplus

Extravagant Wasteful

Famous Popular, renowned, celebrated, eminent

Far Distant

Fasten Bind, fix

Fatal deadly

Fate Destiny, end

Fault Error, Mistake, Flaw, Defect, blunder

Fearful Frightened, timid, cowardly, nervous

Fond Affectionate, Sympathetic

Gaze Stare

Genuine Real

Hateful Detestable Entice Lure, persuade

Hinder Obstruct, impede, thwart

Injure Hurt, harm

Invade Raid, attack

Invoke Call, Summon

Kind Considerate, thoughtful

Mute Silent

Obey Yield, submit

Obscene Indecent, Vulgar

Poor Needy, Destitute

Praise Compliment, commend, applaud

Predict Foretell

Pretty Beautiful, attractive

Quite Calm, tranquil, peaceful

Real Authentic, genuine, original

Riot Revolt

Rude Insolent, impolite

Safe Secure, protected, guarded

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Scorn Despise, condemn

Secure Protect, get

Sly Craftily, Shrewd

Small Tiny, little

Smell Scent, perfume, odour, fragile

Spread Scatter, Disperse, Distribute

Stranger Foreigner, Alien, Immigrant

Suitable Appropriate

Surrender Yield, submit, abandon

Trust Rely, believe

Try Attempt, strive

Weak Feeble, Frail

NOTES

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WORD DISTINCTION

(COLLOCATION)

Word distinction is a very important component in multiple choice questions.

It looks at sets of sister words which have a common basic meaning but are

distinct in the way they are used in a particular sentence.

1. Borrow, Lend, Loan and Lease

All these words mean either giving or receiving something.

Borrow : Means to receive something from someone.

Lend : Means to give something to someone.

Loan : Means to lend someone something especially money.

Lease : Means to pay to use someone‟s property for long period

instead of buying it e.g Land.

Exercise

a) Can you __________________ me your pen?

b) I would like to __________________ your suit for the party.

c) Since you cannot have land of your own, you have to ________________ it.

2. Steal, Rob, Plunder, Loot and Burgle

All these words mean taking someone‟s property without his/her authority.

They only differ in the way they are used in sentences.

Burgle: To break into a building and steal.

Steal: Is followed by the things stolen when used in a sentence. In other

words, one steals things.

Loot: To steal things especially from shops or buildings that has been

damaged during war or riot.

Rob: Is followed by a person or place when used in a sentence. In other

words, one robs a person or place and not things.

Exercise

a) Our house has been ________________ twice.

b) After the strike, the vendors __________________ the shops of Indians.

c) The angry soldiers _____________ the whole village using dangerous

weapons.

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3. Kill, Murder, Manslaughter, Massacre, Assassinate, Execute,

Electrocute.

All these words mean to make someone die.

Execute: To kill

Kill: To make someone die.

Murder: To kill intentionally.

Massacre: To kill in large numbers.

Electrocute: To kill by electric power.

Manslaughter: To kill unintentionally.

Exercise

a) Jews were _____________________ in concentration camps by Hitler.

b) Peter was ______________________ after touching the live electric wires.

c) President Lawrent Kabira was _________________ by his own bodyguard.

d) Having been charged with murder, he was ____________ the following day.

4. Suicide, Parricide, Matricide, Homicide, Genocide, Arson

All these words are connected with crimes

Suicide: The killing of oneself

Patricide: The crime of killing one‟s own father.

Matricide: The crime of killing one‟s own mother.

Parricide: The crime of killing one‟s own parents or blood relatives.

Genocide: The murder of a national race

The crime of killing the whole generation

Homicide: The illegal killing of one person by another.

The crime where one person kills another

Arson: The crime of deliberately setting fire on something

The crime of setting fire to a building on purpose

Exercise

a) Peter committed _________________ by killing his own sister.

b) Tawina was charged with _________________ for setting the church ablaze.

c) Adolf Hitler committed ________ when he wiped out the whole Jewish race.

5. Deport, Repatriate, Evacuate, Expatriate, Banish

All these words involve being moved from one place to another

Repatriate: To send one to one‟s country.

Evacuate: To move from a dangerous to a safe place.

Expatriate: To force one to leave one‟s own country for another country

because he has broken the law.

Deport: To make one without legal right and who is not a citizen of a

particular country to leave that country.

Banish: To send someone away permanently from one‟s own country or

home areas especially as an official punishment.

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Exercise:

a) The illegal immigrants were _______________ last week.

b) The prisoners were __________________ at the end of the war.

c) People in lower Shire were __________________ due to the floods

d) The rebels were ____________________ for rising against the government.

6. Cheer, Boo, Jeer, Applaud.

Applaud: Clapping hands to show that you have enjoyed the performance.

Boo: To shout to show that one does not like the performance or the

person.

Cheer: To shout as a way of showing happiness, praise, approval or

support.

Jeer: To laugh unkindly at someone to show that one strongly disapproves

of him/her.

Exercise

1) The spectators‟ _________________ the loosing team.

2) The audience ___________________ her for the good performance.

3) The spectators‟ __________________ as their striker was dribbling the ball.

4) The audience ___ the actor off the stage because of because of his low voice.

5) The supporters‟ _______ at their team for losing the game by ten goals to nil.

7. Coax, Compel, Flatter, Provoke

All these words mean to make something do something.

Compel: To force someone to do something.

Provoke: To try to make someone angry by saying something annoying.

Flatter: To praise someone in an insincere way in order to please him/her

or get something from him/her.

Coax: To persuade someone to do something that he/she doesn‟t want to

do by talking to him/her in a kind, patient and gentle way.

Exercise

1. The man spoke softly to _________________ the timid boy to go with him.

2. Paul praised the ugly girl for her looks to ___ her so that he can be her lover.

8. Constitute, Consist of, Composed of and Comprise

All these words are used to express the whole in terms of its parts.

Constitute: Is used when mentioning the parts first and the whole later

For example:

1. A fridge, bed, radio and chairs constitute my property.

2. The head teacher, deputy head teacher and the teachers constitute

our teaching staff.

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Consist of: Takes „of‟ when used in a sentence.

It is used in active voice and is used when mentioning the whole first and

the parts later.

For example:

1. My property consists of fridge, radio, bed and chairs.

2. Our teaching staff consists of the head teacher, deputy head teacher

and the teachers

Composed: Takes „of‟ when used in a sentence. It is used in passive voice.

It is used when mentioning the whole first and the parts later.

For example:

1. My property is composed of fridge, radio, bed and chairs.

2. Our teaching staff is composed of the head teacher, deputy head

teacher and teachers.

Comprise: Does not take „of‟. It is used in active voice. It is used when

mentioning the whole first and parts later.

For example:

1. My property comprises a fridge, radio, bed and chairs.

2. Our teaching staff comprises the head teacher, deputy head teacher

and teachers.

Exercise

1. This exercise ______________________ multiple choice questions.

2. The community _____________________ Yao, Ngoni and Lomwe tribes.

9. Prize, Reward, Gift, Compensation, Damages, Bonus, Incentive

All these words indicate something given to someone.

Gift: Something that is given freely especially on a special occasion.

Reward: Something that one receives because he has done something

good.

Bonus: Money added to someone‟s wages especially as a reward for good

work.

Incentive: Something that is given to someone to encourage him/her to

work harder.

Prize: Something that you give someone who is successful in a

competition, race and game.

Compensation: Money that one pays someone because he has harmed or

hurt him/her in some way.

Damage: Monetary compensation that is awarded by a court to an

individual who has been injured in the act.

Exercise

1) The company gave him K1000.00 as _______________ for his lost limb.

2) Free housing, electricity and water were given to Mr Phiri as a (n) ______.

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3) The management is offering K50, 000 as ________________ to whoever

finds the lost documents.

4) Lucy was given a car as a (n) __________________ for emerging a winner

in the essay competition.

5) The court charged him K200, 000 as _____________________ for

impregnating the pastor‟s daughter.

10. Audience, Spectators, Viewers, Congregation

All these words stand for groups of people listening to someone speaking

on public.

Viewers: A group of people watching television.

Spectators: A group of people watching a sporting event.

Audience: A group of people listening to someone speaking in public.

Congregation: A group of people who gather together for a religious

ceremony.

Exercise

1. The preacher caught the attention of the whole ____________________.

2. The angry _____________ shouted at the actor with a low voice on the stage.

3. The ________ cheered as their striker dribbled the ball towards the goal area.

11. Illegal, Illegible, Illegitimate, Indelible, Inaudible

All these words mean that something is not possible or desirable. They

convey negative sense.

Inaudible: Too low to be heard.

Indelible: Impossible to remove or forget.

Illegitimate: Born to parents who are not married.

Illegible: Difficult or impossible to read e.g. Illegible Handwriting.

Illegal: Not allowed by law. E.g. Chamba trade is an illegal business, Illegal

immigrant: Someone who comes to live in another country without official

permission.

Exercise

1. The _____________ immigrants were deported last week.

2. I could not make out what was written because the handwriting was _____.

3. Lucy is an ___ child because she was born while her mother was at school.

4. Chikondi‟s voice was so ____ that we could not hear what she was saying.

12. Refugee, Hostage, Captive, Immigrant, Detainee

Detainee: One who is kept under guard

Captive: One who is kept a prisoner (Animal – Kept in a cage, zoo etc)

Refugee: One who is forced to leave his/her country especially during war

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Immigrant: One who comes from abroad to live permanently in another

country

Hostage: One who is kept as prisoner by an enemy so that the other side

will do what the enemy demands

Exercise

1. All Rwandan __________________ were repatriated at the end of the war.

2. The man was taken __________ by the enemy camp to demand the

withdrawal of their troops from the territory

13. Journey, Stroll, Errand, Trip, Voyage, Expedition

All these words mean moving from one place to another.

Stroll: A short leisurely walk.

Voyage: A long journey in a ship.

Trip: A journey to a place and back again

Errand: A short journey in order to do something for someone

Journey: Movement from one place to another especially over long

distances.

Expedition: A long journey by a group of people to a dangerous place or

one that has never been visited before

Exercise

1. We had a __________________ on Lake Malawi.

2. Mwayi took a _________________ to the flower garden.

3. They had a football __________________ to Blantyre yesterday.

4. Ten people had a (n) ___________ to the highest peak of Mulanje mountain.

14. Ambassador, Diplomat, Envoy, Delegate

All these words stand for a representative.

Delegate: One who is given power or authority to represent others.

Envoy: Any person sent to represent a ruler or government for diplomatic

purposes.

Ambassador/Diplomat: An important official who represents his/her

country in a foreign country.

Exercise

1. Agnes was chosen as Malawi‟s _______________ to this year‟s

International Conference.

2. The American _________________ has been in the country for a week

and had an audience with the president.

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15. Abdicate, Ambush, Hijack, Kidnap, Impeach, Usurp

Usurp: To take leadership by force

Abdicate: To give up positions of leadership

Ambush: To attack someone from a hiding place

Impeach: To charge a public official with a serious crime.

Hijack: To take control of an aircraft using threat or force in order to make

political demands.

Kidnap: To take someone away illegally and usually by force in order to

demand something especially money for his or her safe return.

Exercise

1. Julius Ceaser ______________ the throne by killing king Duncan.

2. The rebels _________________ the Italian Army Plane in order to

have their leader released.

3. Many citizens rejected the motion to __________________ their

reader because they had no basis for it.

16. Minutes, Agenda, Proceedings, Motion

Agenda: A list of items (topics) to be discussed at a meeting

Minutes: The official written records of what is said and decided at a

meeting.

Motion: A proposal that is made formally at a meeting and then decided on

by voting.

Proceedings: Official records in meetings or actions taken in a law court or

in a legal case.

Exercise

1. The secretary was asked to __________________ of the previous meeting.

2. The first item on the _____________________ at the meeting was the

opening prayer.

17. Glance, Glare, Glimpse, Gleam

All these words mean looking at something or the way something looks

Gleam: To shine with a pale clear light.

Glance: To look quickly at something or somebody. E.g. To steal a glance

at something means to look secretly at something or someone

Glimpse: To look at something /someone for a very short time without

seeing it or him/her completely.

Glare: To look at something/somebody in an angry way or to shine with a

very bright and unpleasant light.

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Exercise

1. The moonlight ____________________ on the water.

2. She stole a _________________ at the man she admired the most.

3. Peter caught a __________________ of the car as it veered around the

corner.

18. Confiscate, Forfeit, Seize, Snatch

All these words mean taking something from someone.

Snatch: To take something from a person or place especially by force.

Seize: To take control of a place or a situation suddenly by using force.

Confiscate: To officially take something away from somebody especially

as a punishment.

Forfeit: To lose something or to have something taken away from you

because you have done something wrong.

Exercise

1. The thief ________________ the woman‟s bag and ran away.

2. The enemy soldiers‟ __________________ the village after the war.

3. Mr Mwale‟s property has been ____________ for failing to pay back the

government loan.

4. The invigilators __________________ the cell phones of the candidates

together with other reference materials during the examination.

19. Intervene, Interfere, Interrupt, Inconvenience

Inconvenience: To cause trouble or difficult for somebody

Intervene: To be involved in a situation in order to improve or help it.

Interrupt: To say or do something that makes one stop what they are

saying or doing.

Interfere: To get involved in and try to influence a situation that does not

concern you in any way.

Exercise

1. She would have died if the neighbours had not ________________.

2. I wish my parents could stop _____ and let me make my own decision.

3. ESCOM is apologizing to its valued customers for the _________ that

the blackout will cause.

20. Litter, Refuse, Rubbish, Garbage

All these words mean wastes or useless things

Refuse: Waste material that has been thrown away.

Litter: Small pieces of rubbish left lying in a public place.

Rubbish: Something that is thrown away because it is no longer needed or

wanted.

Garbage: Waste food or paper that is thrown away or in containers where

wastes are kept.

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Exercise

1. James has dug a very deep __________________ pit.

2. Our class was assigned the work for picking up _______________

around the school blocks.

21. Entice, Incite, Tantalise, Inspire

Tantalise: To make a person want something that he cannot have or do.

Inspire: To give someone desire, confidence or enthusiasm to do

something well.

Entice: To persuade one to do something usually by offering him/her

something.

Incite: To encourage one to do something violent, illegal or unpleasant

especially by making them angry or excited

Exercise

1. Peter _________________ his fellow students to go on strike.

2. They were accused of __________________ the crowd to violence.

3. They tried to _____ the child to eat by offering him his favourite food.

4. Miss Chitenje‟s style of teaching ______ Macheso to pursue a

teaching career.

22. Opaque, Obscure, Impervious, Blurred

Blurred: Not clear

Opaque: Not clear enough to see something through it.

Obscure: To make it difficult to see, hear or understand.

Impervious: Not allowing liquids or gas to pass through.

For example:

1. I found her lecture very obscure.

2. She suffered from dizziness and blurred vision.

3. He was born around 1545 but his origins remains obscure.

Exercise

1. A photograph taken out of focus is _____________________.

2. All _________________ objects do not allow light pass through them.

3. We should not let the minor details ________________ the main issue.

23. Optimistic, Pessimist, Utopian, Idealist

Optimist: A person who always expects good to happen or be successful.

Utopian: A person who imagines of a place or state where everything is

perfect.

Pessimist: A person who always expects bad things to happen or things not

to be successful.

Idealist: A person who has a strong belief in perfect standards and tries to

achieve them even when this is not realistic.

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Exercise

1. Mr Matumula _____ because he always expects to excel in business.

2. Jacqueline should be a (n) __________ because she always expects to

fail whenever she sits for an examination.

NOTES

_______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

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ACTIVE AND

PASSIVE VOICES

Voice is the grammatical term that shows the doer and the receiver of the action

of the verb.

A sentence can be changed from one voice to another.

The following points should be followed when changing a sentence from active

to passive voice

1. The object of the active verb becomes the subject of the passive verb.

For example:

Active Voice : John kicked the ball.

Passive Voice : The ball was kicked by John.

2. The subject of the active verb becomes the object of “by” (the agent) „

For example:

Active Voice : Mr Cedreck teaches English.

Passive Voice : English is taught by Mr Cedreck.

3. If the doer in the active voice is not specified, the passive form omits the

preposition phrase (i.e. by + object).

For example:

Active Voice : Someone likes bananas.

Passive Voice : Bananas are liked.

4. The form of the verb is changed by using the same tense of the verb „to be‟

with the past participle verb.

For Example:

ACTIVE VOICE PASSIVE VOICE

A. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

1. The boy gives his sister some oranges. Some oranges are given to the sister

by the boy.

2. Someone takes the food. The food is taken

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B. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

1. Mr Macheso has taught English English has been taught by Mr Macheso.

2. Have the students eaten the food? Has the food been eaten by the students?

C. THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

1. The teacher is teaching English. English is being taught by the teacher.

2. The doctor is treating the patient. The patient is being treated by the doctor.

3. Is Jane watching a movie? Is a movie being watched by Jane?

D. THE SIMPLE PAST TENSE

1. John called them regularly. They were regularly called by John.

2. Did Mwayi eat the apple? Was the apple eaten by Mwayi?

E. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

1. James was calling the child. The child was being called by James.

2. Were all students writing the test? Was the test being written by all

students?

F. PAST PERFECT TENSE

1. Jacqueline has passed the examinations. The examinations had been passed by

Jacqueline.

2. Had the candidates written the exams? Had the exams been written by the

candidates?

G. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE

1. He will write the letters. The letters will be written by him.

2. Will the driver pick her up at 10am? Will she be picked by the driver at 10am?

H. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE

1. She will have taught the class. The class will have been taught by her.

2. Will Bali have eaten the orange? Will the orange have been eaten by Bali?

Exercise

Change the following sentences into the passive voice

1. Emily ate the bread.

2. The minister will open the conference.

3. He was watching the match.

4. Did the teacher teach the subject?

5. She has occupied my office.

6. They will have written the examinations.

7. They had seen the president.

8. The court had declared the law unconditional.

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QUESTION TAGS AND

SHORT RESPONSES

QUESTION TAGS

These are questions which are asked not because we need information but

confirmation of what we already know. We want the person addressed to agree with

us.

For example:

a) Expecting the answer „yes‟ They like tea don‟t they?

b) Expecting the answer „no‟ They don‟t like tea, do they?

So, Question tags are grammatical phrases in form of questions which are added to

statements.

RULES WHICH ARE FOLLOWED WHEN FORMING QUESTION TAGS

1. When a statement is positive (affirmative), the question tag must be negative.

For example:

a) Mrs Brown is a doctor, isn‟t she?

b) You can speak French, can‟t you?

c) Your friends will come, won‟t they?

2. When the statement is negative, the question tag must be positive

For example:

a) Mr Maulidi isn‟t a doctor, is he?

b) You can‟t speak Latin, can you?

c) Goats don‟t speak, do they?

NOTE: All auxiliary verbs in the statements are repeated in the question tags,

except:

a) . Need and dare used positively in the statement are not repeated in the tag.

For example:

a. We need to buy a new radio, don‟t we?

b. He dared to stroke the lion, didn‟t he?

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b) . “Used to” is treated as a full verb rather than an auxiliary.

For example:

a. He used to own a house, didn‟t he?

b. Jane used to borrow my pen, didn‟t she?

c) . There is no form „amnt I?‟ instead we say aren‟t I?

For example:

a. I am interested in your performance, aren‟t I?

b. I am better at tennis than he is, aren‟t I?

3. When the statements contain main verbs, the question tags take a „do‟ „does‟ or

„did‟ depending on the tense of the verb in the given statement.

(a) When the statement contains a present tense singular main verb, the question

tag takes „does‟ for the third person singular.

For example:

a. Jane likes soft drinks, doesn‟t she?

b. She passes every examination, doesn‟t she?

(b) When the statement contains a past tense main verb, the question tag takes

„do‟

For example:

a. Jane and James like music, don‟t they?

b. The three girls pass every examination, didn‟t they?

(c) When the statement contains a past tense main verb, the question tag takes

„do‟

For example:

a. Jane liked soft drinks, didn‟t she?

b. The three girls passed every examination, didn‟t they?

4. Statements which contain such words as „scarcely‟, „no‟, „never‟, „seldom‟,

„barely‟, „nothing‟, „no one‟ are treated as negatives and therefore take positive

question tag.

For example:

a. Nothing was said, was it?

b. No man is an island, is he?

c. I have never watched television, have I?

d. I seldom go there, do I?

e. He rarely comes here, does he?

f. They barely escape from a lion, did they?

g. He has seen no one, has he?

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5. An imperative can be made into less of a command and more of a request by the

addition of affirmative tag in the future tense. All statements which show either a

command or more of a request take the future tense marker „will‟ and the personal

pronoun „you‟ in the question tag. This is because a command sounds negative

(forcing matters)

For example:

a. Pass me sugar, will you?

b. Open the window, will you?

c. Go out, will you?

6. All statements which start with „lets‟ take the future tense marker „shall‟ and the

personal pronoun „we‟ in the question tag.

For example;

1. Let‟s pray, shall we?

2. Let‟s go home, shall we?

3. Let‟s talk about AIDS, shall we?

Exercise

Form question tags from the following statements.

1. Pick up those writing materials, ________________?

2. It seems James wants to go, _______________________________?

3. I am sending all my love to you, ___________________________?

4. No girl can accept Tybalt‟s proposal, _______________________?

5. Mercutio never goes to the university, ______________________?

6. I need your love and care, ______________________________?

7. Switch off the light, _______________________________?

8. He mustn‟t come with us, _______________________________?

9. The head teacher was student at this school, __________________?

SHORT RESPONSES

A. Short responses to questions ending with question tags. It is normal to answer

those questions briefly with a yes or no + subject + auxiliary verb.

The short response echoes the question tag i.e. the auxiliary verb is repeated in the

same tense.

1. A positive statement with a negative question tag normally expects Yes

(Positive) answer.

For example:

(a) Juliet has accepted my proposal, hasn‟t she? Yes, she has.

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(b) Romeo did come, didn‟t he? Yes, he did.

(c) The Prince will pass the verdict, won‟t he? Yes, he will.

2. A negative statement with a positive question tag normally expects a No

(Negative) answer.

For example:

(a) You won‟t come, will you? No, I won‟t.

(b) Romeo couldn‟t come, could he? No, he couldn‟t.

(c) You haven‟t money, have you? No, I haven‟t.

Exercise

Form question tags from the following statements and add expected answers to them.

1. Rosaline has come,_________________? ____________________

2. Tybalt and Benvolio rarely chart,_____________? _____________

3. Mercutio is very provocative,_______________? ______________

4. I have never been to Mantua, ____________? ________________

5. I am early, ____________________? _______________________

ADDITIONS TO STATEMENTS

There are two types of additions to statements, namely:

1. Positive agreement.

2. Negative agreement.

1. POSITIVE AGREEMENT

Its pattern is So + Positive Auxiliary + Subject.

For example:

(a) He likes coffee. So do I.

(b) I have been studying hard. So has Ntolo.

(c) Catherine can produce good results. So can Thoko.

(d) Chola tried very hard to bring a change. So did Mchere.

2. NEGATIVE AGREEMENT

The pattern for negative agreement is „Neither + Positive Auxiliary + Subject.‟

For example:

(a) I have no money. Neither has Bota.

(b) Nambe doesn‟t like Mchere‟s behaviour. Neither does Biti.

(c) The party Secretary General could not do that. Neither could Dambo.

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Exercise:

Form additives to the following statements.

1. Olivia dislikes watching Nigerian movies.__________________ Malamulo.

2. Macdonald will pass easily._______________________________ Julliea.

3. Thokozani rarely misses classes._____________________________ Jane.

4. Tadala hardly ever studied for the tests. ________________________ he.

5. Blessings will go to the storeroom.________________________ Elizabeth.

NOTES

_______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

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DIRECT AND

INDIRECT SPEECH

Direct speech means the actual words of the speaker.

For example:

(a) “I am learning English,” he said.

(b) “Have you ever seen a plane crush?” he asked. “No,” I replied.

(c) “I study English every morning,” she said.

(d) Couldn‟t she hear Jane say, “Under the table!”

Indirect speech is a report off what has been said. It is said by someone not the

speaker him/herself.

Changes which are involved when changing sentences from direct to indirect

speech

A. VERBS

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

Present Simple Past Simple Future Tense Future in the Past

Present Continuous Past Continuous (Shall & Will) (Should and Would)

Present Perfect Past Perfect Conditional Perfect Conditional

Past Simple Past Perfect

For example:

Direct Speech Indirect Speech

She said that:

1. “I write home every week.” She wrote home every week.

2. “I am watching television.” She was watching television.

3. “I have played the game.” She had played the game.

4. “I shall meet him in Blantyre.” She would meet him in Blantyre.

5. “I have been playing netball.” She had been playing netball.

6. “I wrote a letter to Jimmy.” She had written a letter to Jimmy.

7. “I may be able to go.” She might be able to go.

8. “If I had my book, I could find the answer.” If she had her book, she could have

found the answer.

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If the verb in the principle clause is in the present tense, present continuous tense,

present perfect tense or future tense, the verb in the reported sentence will not

change.

For example:

Direct speech : “This work is too difficult.”

Indirect speech : He says (that) this work is too difficult.

He is saying (that) this work is too difficult.

He has said (that) this work is too difficult.

He will say (that) this work is too difficult.

When the sentence expresses a fact that is supposed to be universally true and

not merely applicable to the time when statement was made, the present tense

may be used in reported speech.

For example:

Direct speech :“Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,” Pope said.

Indirect speech : Pope said that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Direct speech : “The sun is 92 million miles away.”

Indirect speech : She said that the sun is 92 million miles away.

The present tense may be used also with a statement expressing a reported or

habitual action.

Direct speech : “I get up at seven O‟clock every morning.”

Indirect speech : He said that he gets up at seven O‟clock every morning.

Direct speech : “My wife always drinks coffee for breakfast.”

B. Change in Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

These generally change as follows:

Direct Indirect Direct Indirect Direct Indirect

I, Me He/She My His/Her Ours Theirs

We They Mine His/Hers Your Their

Us Them Our Their Yours Theirs

C. Demonstrative Adjective Changes

Direct Indirect

This That

These Those

For example:

Direct speech : “I borrowed this pen from my brother,” John said.

Indirect speech : John said that he borrowed that pen from his brother.

John said that he borrowed the pen from his brother.

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Exercise

1. “Life begins at forty,” Mrs Banda said.

Mrs Banda said that life begins at forty. „

2. “This class is always good,” the teacher says.

The teacher says that this class is always good.

3. “If I had money, I could buy this pen,” she said.

She said that if she had money she could have bought that pen.

D. Adverb Changes

Direct Indirect Direct Indirect

Here There Today That day

Now Then Tomorrow The next day

Ago Before The previous day/ The day before

Yesterday morning The morning before/ Yesterday afternoon The afternoon before/

The previous morning The previous afternoon

For example:

(b) “I am going home today,” said Jane.

Jane said that she was going home that day.

(c) “I saw the boy here in this room today,” said Alinafe.

Alinafe said that she had seen the boy there, in that room that day.

(d) “I will see these boys now.”

He said he would see those boys then.

E. Commands and Requests

Indirect commands and requests take the introductory verbs like “commanded,”

“told”, “asked” or “requested.” The verb in the direct speech becomes an

infinitive with “to”

For example:

1. “Take the books to the office,” the clerk said to me.

The clerk told me to take the books to the office.

2. “Go away!”

He ordered him to go away.

3. “Do write to me as soon as you arrive.”

She asked him to write to her as soon as he arrived.

4. “Play the piano, please.”

He asked me to play the piano.

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F. Exclamations

Exclamations take the introductory verb exclaimed. In order to express an

exclamation in indirect speech, it is necessary to use an expression which

will give the idea of the original.

For example:

1. “God gracious! I have never heard of such a thing,” he said.

He was very surprised and said had never heard of such a thing.

2. “What a beautiful house this is!” Exclaimed Luke.

Luke exclaimed what a beautiful house it was. Luke exclaimed

that the house was beautiful.

3. “How hot this day is!” Exclaimed the weatherman.

The weatherman lamented how hot that day was. The weatherman

exclaimed that it was a hot day.

G. Questions

Questions without interrogative pronouns take ‘if’ or ‘whether’ in their

indirect form.

For example:

Direct “Why have you locked the door?” The teacher

asked me.

Indirect The teacher asked me why I had locked the door.

Direct “Is Henry really working hard?”

Indirect He asked (wondered) if Henry was really

working hard.

Direct “Do you know me?” He asked the boy.

Indirect He asked the boy if he knew him.

Direct “How did you do it?” He asked her.

Indirect He asked her how she had done it.

Exercise

Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. “Please drive more carefully,” she said to the driver.

2. “I am happy now,” she said.

3. “What do you think you are doing?” The man asked.

4. “Put away the books now,” the teacher told us.

5. “Are you laughing at me?‟ The man asked the boys.

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SOME CONJUNCTIONS

The use of ‘besides’, ‘although’, ‘despite’, ‘in spite of’, ‘hardly….when’, ‘no

sooner…. Than’ ‘if’ and ‘unless’

Besides means in additional to. It occurs either before a noun or a gerund.

For example:

1. Boys were chosen. Girls were chosen

Besides boys, girls were chosen.

2. He passed the examination and was selected to go to the university.

Besides passing the examinations, he was selected to go to the university.

3. He is ill. He is weak Besides being ill he is weak.

4. Jane can swim. Jane can play football.

5. Besides swimming, Jane can play football.

The use of ‘Although’, ‘in spite of’, ‘Despite’

Although requires a subject and a verb when it is used in a sentence. „Despite‟ or

„in spite of‟ is used before a noun or gerund when used in a sentence.

For example:

1. Although he is intelligent he failed the examination.

Despite being intelligence, he failed the examination.

In spite of being intelligent, he failed the examination.

2. In spite of danger we continued the journey.

Although it was dangerous, we continued the journey.

3. Although he is poor, he is hardworking.

In spite of being poor, he is hardworking.

Despite being poor, he is hardworking

In spite of poverty, he is hardworking.

4. Although it was raining, we played the game.

Despite the rains, we played the game.

5. Although it was dark, Jean went to the disco.

In spite of the darkness, Jean went to the disco.

Exercise

Rewrite the following sentences using the words given

1. She is a teacher. She is a church elder. (Besides)

2. After playing the game, he drank the water. (Besides)

3. Although he was unreliable, many people trusted him. (In spite of)

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4. They came yesterday. They brought the results. (Besides)

5. Form three students are both lazy and noisy. (Besides)

6. Despite being an easy examination, many students failed. (Although)

7. Despite being in trouble, she did not lose courage. (Although)

The Use of ‘Hardly …..When’

Hardly is an adverb which conveys a negative sense when used in a sentence. It

takes when. When it occurs at the beginning of the sentence, the subject auxiliary

inversion is followed. The subject inversion is a situation where the subject and the

auxiliary verb exchange positions in a sentence.

Examples

1. The performance ha not begun when we arrived.

The performance had hardly begun when we arrived.

Hardly had the performance begun when we arrived.

2. I had not finished reading when the teacher came in.

I had hardly finished reading when the teacher came in.

Hardly had I finished reading when the teacher came in.

3. They had not eaten nsima when the lights went out.

They had hardly eaten nsima when the lights went out.

Hardly had they eaten nsima when the lights went out.

4. We had not finished writing when the invigilator collapsed.

We had hardly finished writing when the invigilator collapsed.

Hardly had we finished writing when the invigilator collapsed.

The use of ‘No sooner …. than’

When no sooner is used in a sentence, it takes than. When it occurs at the

beginning of a sentence, the subject- auxiliary inversion is followed.

Examples:

1. The teacher had just arrived when my name was called.

The teacher had no sooner arrived than my name was called.

No sooner had the teacher arrived than my name was called.

2. I had finished writing when the teacher came in.

I had no sooner finished writing than the teacher came in.

No sooner had I finished writing than the teacher came in.

3. They had just eaten nsima when the lights went out.

They had no sooner eaten nsima than the lights went out.

No sooner had they eaten nsima than the rights went out.

4. We had gone home when the accident occurred.

We had no sooner gone home than the accident occurred.

No sooner had we gone home than the accident occurred.

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The use of ‘if’ and ‘Unless’

Both if and unless are conditional markers. They show that an action will take

place after certain conditions are fulfilled. Unless means if not. So, when you are

given a sentence with an „If clause‟ and you want to rewrite it using unless, you

negate (use not) the verb in the main clause.

Examples:

1. If you don‟t go I will not follow you.

Unless you go I will follow you.

2. If I were not her I would not accept his proposal.

Unless I were her I would not accept his proposal.

3. If he had known he would not have listened to my advice.

Unless he had known he would not have listened to my advice.

4. He would not pass the examination if he did not work hard.

Unless he worked hard he would not pass the examination.

Exercise

Rewrite the following sentences using the words given.

1. He would have told you if you had asked him. (Unless)

2. Unless you tell me the truth, I will not give it to you. (If)

3. The meeting had not started when the chair man arrived.(hardly)

4. We had just finished the game when the rain started. (No sooner had)

5. John had not completed his homework when he collapsed. (Hardly...)

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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TYPES OF SENTENCES

A sentence is a group of words which includes a finite verb and expresses a

complete thought.

For example:

1. Go home now.

2. Our dog barked throughout the night.

TYPES OF SENTENCES

A. Simple Sentences

A simple sentence is a group of words which includes one finite verb and

expresses a complete thought. This thought can be a statement, a question,

a command or an exclamation.

For example:

1. Take all your clothes. (command)

2. How I wish I could go with you. (exclamation)

B. Compound Sentences

A compound sentence is one which contains two main clauses (Sentences)

For example:

1. The tea was cold but he enjoyed drinking it.

2. She collected her books and put on her coat.

3. You must pay the fare or you can not travel by this bus.

C. Multiple Sentences

A multiple sentence is a compound sentence which contains three or more

main clauses.

For example:

1. I picked up my suitcase, put on my hat and walked away.

2. The pupils got their books, locked the desks and ran to the laboratory.

3. John swept the floor and Jane washed the plates but Joseph just sat there.

4. The secretary put away the files, locked the filing cabinet and left the

office.

NB: A multiple sentence is a type of compound sentence.

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D. Complex Sentences

A complex sentence is the one which has one main clause and one or more

subordinate clauses.

A subordinate clause is the one that cannot stand alone. It depends on the rest of the

sentence for its meaning.

For example:

1. This is the man whom you met yesterday.

2. The news that he had drowned shocked everyone.

3. Although he was ill, he decided to keep his appointment.

4. I shall spend this evening with you unless you have made

arrangements to go out.

Exercise

Identify the types of clauses in each of the following sentences.

1. Did you like the house which I built?

2. Blantyre is a city which fascinates me.

3. The runner whose shoe came off finished last.

4. I eventually found the purse where I had hidden it.

5. Since they have all left, let us complete the work ourselves.

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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MEANING OF

SENTENCES

This is not a guessing game. There are certain clues which are followed:

a. Using double negatives.

b. Using contextual clues.

c. Using sentence patterns (conditional and concessions)

A. Interpreting Sentences Using Double Meanings

If a sentence has two negatives, it implies a positive idea.

Examples:

1. She did not say, she did not do it. This means that:

a. She said she did it. c. She said nothing but did it.

b. She said something but did not do it. d. She said nothing but did it.

2. Never did John say that he did not take the money. This means that:

a. John said nothing but he did it.

b. John said that he did not take the money

c. John never said that he took the money.

d. John said that he took the money.

3. At no time has Joseph mistrusted Jane. This means that:

a. Joseph trusts Jane c. Joseph‟s mistrust for Jane has no time

b. Jane wins Joseph‟s trust d. Joseph always trust Jane.

4. The candidates did not make uncommon mistakes. This means that:

a. The candidates made uncommon mistakes

b. The candidates made common mistakes

c. The candidates were not uncommon to such a mistake

d. The candidates commonly made a mistake

B. Interpreting Sentences Using Sentence Patterns

This involves the conditionals (if and unless) and concessions (although, in spite

of, despite, though) and subject-auxiliary inversion.

For example:

1. Had you come, this would have worked for you. This means that:

a. Nothing happened because of your failure to come

b. You did not come but things worked for you

c. You came because things did not work for you

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d. Nothing happened because of your coming

2. Despite her good looks, hardly any man goes for her. This means that:

a. She is proposed because of her good looks

b. Any man goes for her good looks

c. No man likes good look for a woman

d. No man proposes to her although she is beautiful

3. If I were you, I would marry a nurse. This means that:

a. I would marry a nurse like you c. I advise you to marry a nurse

b. I will marry a nurse like you d. I think you need to marry a nurse

4. It was doubtful that James would have married Julie had it not been for his

parents. This means:

a. James doubted his marrying Julie

b. James‟s parents were happy with his marrying Julie

c. James had another lover apart from Julie

d. James‟s parents influenced him marry Julie.

5. It would have been contrary to our expectations if he had not passed the

examination. This means that:

a. He passed examination, which we had not expected.

b. He passed the examination as we expected

c. He failed the examination, which we did not expect.

d. He failed the examination which we expected.

C. Interpreting Sentences Using Contextual Clues

This usually the case when a sentence contains a figure of speech. The

contextual clue is the part with the plain words.

For example:

1. Five thousand kwacha is too much for this ordinary cloth. You must have

paid through your nose. „Paid through your nose‟ means?

a. You happily paid for it c. You spent too much on it

b. You worriedly paid for it d. You spent less on it.

2. They decided to bury the hatchet and try to be friends again. Bury the

hatchet means?

a. Forget worried c. Stop friction

b. Bury the old enmity d. forget the past conflict

3. Due to his heavy handedness many of his workers run away within a short

time. Heavy handedness means?

a. Compassion b. Pity c. Harshness d. Arrogance.

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Exercise

Circle the answer A, B, C or D which gives the nearest meaning to the given

sentences.

1. It was a pity that I had to stop playing in the school team. This means that:

a. I felt pity I stopped c. They felt pity that I stopped

b. It was regrettable that I stopped d. I stopped pitifully

2. If Richard is to be believed, then the head teacher is dead. This implies

that:

a. Richard is a close relative of the head teacher

b. The head teacher was not expected to die

c. The only evidence about the head teacher‟s death is Richard

d. Richard does not usually tell the truth

3. Not once did MacDonald leave the door unlocked. This means that:

a. MacDonald left the door unlocked twice

b. MacDonald always locked the door

c. The door was unlocked once

d. MacDonald sometimes locked the door‟

4. Contrary to our expectation, Esther won the race, beating the famous

Thokozani. This mean that:

a. We expected Esther to win the race

b. We did not expect Esther to win the race

c. Esther won the race because of our expectation

d. our expectation made Esther win the race.

5. USA is not uncivilized country. This mean that:

a. USA is a civilized country c. USA is not a civilized country

b. USA is an underdeveloped country d. USA is not a developed country

6. Joana used to be a skilful player but now has run out of steam. This means:

a. Joana used to play very well

b. Joana only play skilful when there is no steam

c. Joana is no longer a skilful player

d. Joana plays very well when she is not smoking

7. It would have been wiser to have left untampered with. This means that:

a. It was not foolish he had tampered with it

b. He tampered with it which was unfoolish

c. He tampered with it which was unwise

d. If you had left it untampered with, it would have been unwise

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8. My grandmother joined the world of ancestors after being sick for a long

time. The underlined words means?

a. My grandmother died

b. My grandmother was still suffering

c. My grandmother became one of the ancestors

d. My grandmother became an adult

9. Had it not been for Janet, Grace could not have passed the examinations.

This means that:

a. Grace failed the examination because of Janet

c. Grace failed the examination together with Janet

b. Grace passed the examination because of Janet

d. Janet made Grace to fail the examinations

10. Fatsireni mistook Mr Robert for a doctor. This means that Fatsireni:

a. Thought Mr Robert was a doctor

c. Realised that Mr Robert was not a teacher.

d. Took Mr Robert to see one of his doctors

d. Wrongly thought that Mr Robert was a doctor

EQUIVALENCE IN MEANING

Here the concern is with a set of grammatical forms in relation to their meanings,

ways of expressing differently the same situation.

Choose the correct answer which has the same meaning to the given statement.

1. In my high school years, I enjoyed playing volleyball.

a. I hardly enjoyed volleyball c. I am enjoying volleyball

b. I used to enjoyed volley ball d. None of the above

2. My watch works perfectly. This means:

a. My watch is generally reliable one c. My watch is working perfectly

b. My watch rarely works d. None of the above

3. Sankhani is suffering from influenza. This means:

a. Sankhani used to suffer from influenza

b. Sankhani is ill with influenza

c. Influenza was suffered by Sankhani

d. Sankhani hardly suffers from influenza

4. He is a fool.

a. He can‟t help it-it‟s his nature c. He is not unwise

b. He is acting foolishly d. he is unwise

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5. The bus is stationery.

a. The bus is hardly moving c. The bus is parked

b. The bus is standing still d. The bus is near the

stationary

6. Her brother was an invalid all his life.

a. He is dead c. He is injured

b. He is still alive d. He did nothing in his life

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

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SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

TYPES OF SUBORDINATE CLAUSES

There are three types of subordinate clauses namely:

a. Adjective clause

b. Noun Clause

c. Adverbial Clause

1. ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

This is a group of words which does the work of an adjective by qualifying a

noun in a sentence. The noun being qualified is called an antecedent.

An adjective clause is normally introduced by a relative pronoun such as who,

whom, which, why, where, when and that. It answers the question Which?

For example:

1. The shirt that you bought is torn.

2. The book which you lent me was interesting.

3. Thank you for the help that you have given me.

NOTE: Sometimes the relative pronouns can be omitted but the subordinate

adjective clauses can still be understood. This is when the relative pronoun stands in

place of an object.

For example:

1. The book I want is on the table.

Function: It qualifies noun „book‟

2. The man you sent to me has run away.

Function: It qualifies noun „man‟

3. The man you spoke to is my brother.

Function: It qualifies noun „man‟

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TYPES OF SUBORDINATE ADJECTIVE CLAUSES

1. Defining Adjective Clauses

2. Non-defining Adjective Clauses

A. The Defining Adjective Clause

It is the one which tells precisely who or what the noun is. This is a clause

which when removed from the sentence; the sentence does not make

perfect sense.

For example:

1. I have read the book which he wrote.

2. The boy who is in the house is a thief.

3. This is the girl who has come out with a distinction.

B. The Non-Defining Adjective Clause

These are clauses that are not very important to the words they qualify.

They merely give additional information or a mere remark. They are

normally separated from the rest of the sentence by the use of commas.

For example:

1. My father, who came last week, is a great man.

2. The book, which I bought last week, has proved to be useless.

3. Mr. Kole, who was here a few hours ago, was once a driver.

Even if this clause is removed, the sentence still has definite meaning and

makes a complete sense.

2. NOUN CLAUSES

A Noun Clause is the one which does the work of a noun. It answers the

question what? It performs a number of functions in sentences.

There are five functions which a noun clause performs in a sentence.

A noun clause may be:

a. Subject of a Verb

A noun clause functions as a subject of a verb when it occurs before a

principal clause. It always precedes its main clause.

For example;

1. What he said bored everybody.

2. What you are doing seems very difficult.

3. That he will refuse the offer is very unlikely.

4. Whoever answered that question should have been intelligent.

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b. Object of the Verb

A noun clause functions as the object of a verb when it occurs after the

principal clause. The verb in the main clause is an action verb.

Noun clause which is object of a verb may be:

i. A statement direct or indirect

For example:

1. He said “where do you live?”

2. He told me that the debt had been paid.

ii. A question, direct or indirect

For example:

1. He asked me where I lived.

2. He said, “Where do you leave?”

3. Can you tell me what the time is?

iii. The object of the Preposition

A noun clause functions as the object of a preposition governed by a

preposition when it occurs immediately after the preposition.

For example:

1. You can have this for what I paid for it.

2. The head teacher was pleased with what he said.

3. They will be very thankful for whatever you can give them.

4. The student always pays attention to whatever the teacher is

saying.

iv. The Complement of a Verb

A noun clause functions as a complement of a verb if it completes

the meaning to the state or linking verb. The verb does not make

complete sense without the clause.

For example:

a. This is what I want.

Function: Complement of the verb „is‟

b. It appears it will rain.

Function: Complement of the verb „appears‟

c. The fact is that he doesn‟t really try.

Function: complement of the verb „is‟

d. It seems that Juliet has never been in love before.

Function: Complement of the verb „seems‟

e. The winner will be whoever scores highest points.

Function: Complement of the verb „will be‟

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v. In apposition to a noun

A noun clause performs this function when it explains more about a

noun to give further information.

Usually the noun appositioned is an abstract noun.

For example:

a. The rumour that she had passed pleased us.

Function: In apposition to noun „rumour‟

b. The fact that the prisoner was guilty was plain to everyone.

Function: In apposition to noun „fact‟

c. The news that we are having a holiday tomorrow is not true.

Function: In apposition to noun „news‟

d. The idea that you can do this work without thinking is quite

wrong.

Function: In apposition to noun „rumour‟

Exercise

Underline subordinate noun clauses in the following sentences and state their

function.

(a) This is what I like.

(b) What you know is not true.

(c) She knew what the time was.

(d) I know he escaped from prison.

(e) I now realise that he cheated me.

(f) James laughed at what Peter said.

(g) It seems that he had gone already.

(h) Why he came late is a mystery to us.

(i) That Thoko and Agness are sisters is obvious.

(j) The news that Khanyizira school lack teachers is false.

3. ADVERBIAL CLAUSES

Adverbial clauses do the work of adverbs in sentences. They modify verbs,

adjectives or other adverbs.

They are introduced by such words such as when, where, while, as, after,

before, until, if, unless, because, since, so, that, although, than, provided

that, supposing that and as if.

There are nine types of adverbial clauses and these are:

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a. Adverbial Clause of Time. These modify verbs in sentences.

They tell when an action was done and are introduced by words such as

when, until, after, before, since, as, while, and as soon as.

For example:

1. We met once since he arrived from Mzuzu.

Function: It modifies the verb „met‟

2. I learned a lot of French while I was in Paris.

Function: It modifies the verb „learned‟

3. When it rains I usually go to the office by bus.

Function: It modifies the verb „go‟s

4. The thief was arrested as he was leaving the bank.

Function: It modifies the verb „was arrested‟

b. Adverbial Clause of Manner

Adverbial clauses of manner modify verbs in sentences.

They tell how an action was done and are introduced by words such as

‘as’, ‘as though’ and ‘as if’. They indicate the manner in which

something is done. They answer the question how?

For example:

1. He ran as if he was chased.

Function: It modifies the verb „ran‟

2. They spoke as though they were mad.

Function: It modifies the verb „spoke‟

3. I shall do the exercise as I have been told.

Function: It modifies the verb „shall do‟

4. When I get the money, I shall spend it as I like.

Function: It modifies the verb „shall spend‟

c. Adverbial Clause of Place

Adverbial clauses of place modify verbs in sentences.

They tell where an action was done and are introduced by words such as

where and wherever.

For example:

1. I will follow you wherever you go.

Function: It modifies „are going‟

2. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

Function: It modifies the verb „rush‟

3. They are sleeping quietly where I slept yesterday.

Function: It modifies „are sleeping‟

4. The house stood where the Chilambula road meets the Kamuzu

procession road.

Function: It modifies the verb „stood‟

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d. Adverbial Clause of Reason or Cause

Adverbial clause of reason modifies verbs on sentences.

They tell why an action was done and are introduced by such words as

because, since, as and for.

For example:

1. They sent him back for he had no fees.

Function: it modifies the verb „sent‟

2. The teacher punished us because we were late.

Function: It modifies the verb „punished‟

3. Since the bus has already left, let us return home.

Function: It modifies the verb „return‟

4. He repeated every class as he was a slow learner.

Function: It modifies the verb „repeated‟

e. Adverbial Clause of Concession

Adverbial clauses of concession modify verbs in sentences.

They show contrast and are introduced by words such as though,

although, even though, occasionally by even, if wherever, whenever,

however, whether, or not, no matter, whether or not.

For example:

1. Though he was late, he came at last.

Function: It modifies the verb „came‟

2. Even if you try hard, you won‟t succeed.

Function: It modifies the verb „won‟t succeed‟

3. Whatever you may say, I still think I did the right thing.

Function: It modifies the verb „think‟

4. No matter whether you agree or not, I shall pay him the price he

asks.

Function: It modifies the verb „shall pay‟

5. Whether he works hard or not, I don‟t think he will pass the

coming examination

Function: It modifies the verb „think‟

f. Adverbial Clause of Condition

Adverbial clauses of condition modify verbs in sentences.

They indicate conditions under which an action can be done (indicate on

what condition a thing happens, happened or will happen).

They are introduced by if, unless, provided that, supposing that

whether, as long as, or that (after supposing, provided, on condition)

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For example:

1. If you go I shall follow you.

Function: It modifies the verb „will follow‟

2. I shan‟t go unless he asks me.

Function: It modifies the verb „shan‟t go‟

3. Supposing that he asks you, will you go?

Function: It modifies the verb „will go‟

4. I shall go as long as/provided that/on condition that he asks me.

Function: It modifies the verb „shall go‟

g. Adverbial Clause of Purpose

Adverbial clause of purpose modifies verbs in sentences.

They tell a purpose for doing a certain action.

They are introduced by so that, in order that, for fear that, lest

For example:

1. Some people eat so that they may live.

Function: It modifies the verb „eat‟

2. Others seem to eat in order that they may eat.

Function: It modifies the verb „live‟

3. I am telling you this lest you should make a mistake.

Function: It modifies the verb „am telling‟

4. We worked hard so that we could pass the examinations.

Function: It modifies the verb „worked‟

h. Adverbial Clause of Comparison

Adverbial clause of comparison modifies adjectives in sentences. They

compare two actions and are introduced by ‘than’ and ‘as’

For example:

1. She likes beer more than I do.

Function: It modifies an adjective „more‟

2. This work is not easy as you think.

Function: It modifies adjectives „easy‟

3. That question is easier than I thought.

Function: It modifies an adjective „easier‟

4. Rose has done better than she did last year.

Function: It modifies an adjective „better‟

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i. Adverbial Clause of Result

Adverbial clauses of result modify adjectives and adverbs in sentences.

They tell the result of an action and are introduced by so … that.

For example:

1. The sun was so hot that we sat in the shade.

Function: It modifies an adverb „so‟

2. Gift was so intelligent that he passed every examination.

Function: It modifies an adverb „so‟

3. He was speaking so quietly, that it was difficult to hear what he

said.

Function: It modifies an adverb „so‟

NOTE: An adverb clause of result associated with degree is introduced

by so … that, such ….. that, or so … as to.

For example:

1. He ran so fast that I could not catch him.

Function: It modifies an adjective „fast‟

2. It was such a warm day that I took off my jacket.

Function: It modifies an adjective „warm‟

3. Would you be so kind as to carry this?

Function: It modifies an adjective „kind‟

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A CLAUSE AND A PHRASE

A clause is related to a phrase in the sense that both are groups of words. The

only difference between the two is that a clause includes a finite verb whereas a

phrase does not include a finite verb.

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The Relationship between an Adjective Clause and a Phrase

ADJECTIVAL CLAUSE

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

A group of related words which qualifies a

noun and includes a finite verb.

For example:

1. The man who is near the river is mad.

2. The girl who is in red is Miss Malawi.

3. The pictures which are hanging on the

wall are mine.

4. The lady who was announcing the

results was my aunt.

A group of related words which qualifies

noun but does not include a finite verb.

For example:

1. The man near the river is mad.

2. The girl in red is Miss Malawi.

3. The pictures hanging on the wall are mine.

4. The lady announcing the results was my

aunt.

The relationship between an Adverb Clause and Phrase

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

ADVERBIAL PHRASE

A group of words which modifies a verb, an

adjective or an adverb and includes a finite

verb.

For example:

1. We waited for him before he arrived.

2. He was cheated because he was ignorant.

3. We have been friends since we were

young.

4. Jeremiah was chosen to be a prophet

before he was born.

A group of words which modifies a verb.

An adjective or an adverb but it does not

include a finite verb.

For example:

1. We waited for him before his arrival.

2. He was cheated because of his ignorance.

3. We have been friends since our youth.

4. Jeremiah was chosen to be a prophet

before his birth.

Exercise

Underline subordinate clauses, state their types and functions.

1. Tell me where you went.

2. I am going where you went.

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3. I shall go, whether he likes it or not.

4. I know the reason why he was so angry.

5. I am going to the house where you went.

6. He ran as though his life depended on it.

7. He worked hard so that he might win the prize.

8. As my secretary is away at present, I have a great many extra letters to

answer.

NOTES

________________________________________________________________

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CONDITIONAL TENSES

AND

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

The distinction between should and would in the conditional tense is disappearing.

Most people now use „would‟ for all persons, although in pure English „should‟

goes with „I‟ and „we‟

The chief use of the conditional tense is in a main clause when a condition is made

in a dependent clause or an infinitive phrase.

For example:

1. We would be able to start the game, if my brother came.

The first part is the main clause while the second one is a conditional

clause

2. To leave school now is a mistake.

Infinitive phrase : “To leave school now.”

Conditional clause : “Would be a mistake.”

Sometimes the condition is understood and not expressed. A very common

instance of this can be: “I would like to introduce our speaker.” Here the words „If

I have your permission,‟ or „If you allow me to,‟ are understood although they

would never be expressed.

I would like, I should like and I would like are polite ways of saying I wish and can

never be shortened to I like.

THE THREE KINDS OF CONDITIONS

a. Open or Likely Condition.

For example: If Faith goes to London, she will study law.

This implies that it is quite possible that Faith will go to London. This

type uses the present tense in the conditional clause and future tense in the

main clause

For example: He will come, if you wait.

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b. Unlikely Condition This uses the past simple tense in conditional

tense in the main clause

For example:

1. He would come if you waited.

2. If Faith went to London, she would study.

This implies that Faith is unlikely to go London.

c. Unfulfilled or Rejected Condition Contains past perfect tense in

conditional clause and present conditional tense in the main clause

If Faith had gone to London, she would have studied

It implies that Faith did not go to London and did not study law.

This is purely hypothetical (bases on situations that have not yet

happened, not on facts)

For example: He would have come, if you had waited.

In the table below a description has been made on these tenses.

A singular subject of a conditional clause can take „were‟

For example: If he were ill, who would take his place?

Exercise

Change the infinitives in brackets to the most suitable tenses.

1. He (visit) the dentist if he had toothache.

2. If he gets married this year, he (need) a higher salary.

3. If the rains came early next year, there (be) a good harvest.

4. If the weather had been finer, the match _____________ (take place)

Kind of

Condition

Tense in Conditional

Clause

Tense in Main

Clause

Open

Present

Future

Unlikely

Past Simple

Conditional

Rejected

Past Perfect

Perfect Conditional

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“The plane flew above the cloud, behind the cloud, around the cloud, below the

cloud, beneath the cloud, beside the cloud, beyond the cloud, into the cloud, near

the cloud, outside the cloud, over the cloud, past the cloud, through the cloud,

toward the cloud, under the cloud, and finally dived underneath the cloud.”

A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between two things. In the

example above, the prepositions show the relationships between a plane and a

cloud.

Below is a list of most common prepositions:

about

beside

into

toward

above

besides

like

under

across

between

near

underneath

after

beyond

of

until

against

by

off

up

along

despite

on

with

among

down

out

within

around

during

outside

without

at

except

over

before

for past

since

behind

from

through

below

in

throughout

beneath

inside

to

PREPOSITIONS

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Some prepositions consist of more than one word. Here is a list of the most

common multiword prepositions:

1. Time

a. On is used with days.

 I will see you on Monday.

 The week begins on Sunday.

b. At is used with noon, night, midnight, and with the time of day.

 My plane leaves at noon.

 The movie starts at 6 p.m.

c. In is used with other parts of the day, with months, with years, with

seasons.

 He likes to read in the afternoon.

 The days are long in August.

 The book was published in 1999.

 The flowers will bloom in spring.

along with

on account of

in place of

in addition to

because of

out of

in spite of

in case of

due to

up to

instead of

in front of

except for

with the exception of

Prepositions for Time, Place, and Introducing Objects

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d. Since, for, by, from—to, from—until, during, (with) in – expresses

extended time.

 She has been gone since yesterday. (She left yesterday and has not

returned.)

 I'm going to Paris for two weeks. (I will spend two weeks there.)

 The movie showed from August to/until October. (Beginning in

August, ending in October.)

 I watch TV during the evening. (For some period of time in the

evening.)

 We must finish the project within a year. (No longer than a year.)

2. Place

a. In – describes the point itself.

 There is a wasp in the room.

b. Inside – expresses something contained.

 Put the present inside the box.

c. On – talks about the surface.

 I left your keys on the table.

d. At – talks about a general vicinity.

 She was waiting at the corner.

e. Over, above – when the object is higher than a point.

 He threw the ball over the roof.

 Hang that picture above the couch.

f. Under, underneath, beneath, below – when the object is lower than a

point.

 The rabbit burrowed under the ground.

 The child hid underneath the blanket.

 We relaxed in the shade beneath the branches.

 The valley is below sea-level.

g. Near, by, next to, between, among, opposite – when the object is close

to a point.

 She lives near the school.

 There is an ice cream shop by the store.

 An oak tree grows next to my house

 The house is between Elm Street and Maple Street.

 I found my pen lying among the books.

 The bathroom is opposite the kitchen.

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3. Introduce objects of verbs

a. At – with verbs glance, laugh, look, rejoice, smile, and stare

 She took a quick glance at her reflection.

(Exception with mirror: She took a quick glance in the mirror.)

 You didn't laugh at his joke.

 I'm looking at the computer monitor.

 We rejoiced at his safe rescue.

 That pretty girl smiled at you.

 Stop staring at me.

b. Of – with verbs approve, consist, and smell

 I don't approve of his speech.

 My contribution to the article consists of many pages.

 He came home smelling of alcohol.

c. Of/About –with verbs dream and think

 I dream of finishing college in four years.

 Can you think of a number between one and ten?

 I am thinking about this problem.

d. For – with verbs call, hope, look, wait, watch, and wish

 Did someone call for a taxi?

 He hopes for a raise in salary next year.

 I'm looking for my keys.

 We'll wait for her here.

 You go buy the tickets, and I'll watch for the train.

 If you wish for an "A" in this class, you must work hard.

Frequently misused prepositions

Prepositions may sometimes be confused because of slang and the general

informality of talk. Here are some frequently misused prepositions.

a. beside, besides . Beside means next to, whereas besides means in

addition.

 The comb is beside the brush.

 Besides planning the trip, she is also getting the tickets.

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b. between, among . Generally, between is used when two items are

involved; with three or more, among is preferred.

 Between you and me.

 He is among friends.

c. due to . Due to should not be used as a preposition meaning because of.

 Because of (not due to) his speeding, we were all ticketed.

d. inside of. The of is always unnecessary.

 Stay inside the house.

 The man stayed outside (not outside of) the post office.

NOTES

________________________________________________________________

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PHRASES

A phrase is a group of related words which does not include a finite verb.

Examples:

1. My books are in the house.

2. The clothes hanging on the line are mine.

3. We have been friends since our youth.

4. Teachers are teaching large classes.

A phrase functions as a single part of speech in a sentence. However each word

within the phrase has a specific function in a sentence.

TYPES OF PHRASES

Phrases are identified according to the functions they perform in sentences.

Although some phrases start with a preposition and end with a noun or pronoun

(Prepositional phrases) they are usually identified as either adjective, adverb or

noun phrases depending on the function they perform in a sentence.

For example:

1. The hat with a hole in it was thrown away. (With a hole is Qualifying

noun „hat‟)

2. The bus will arrive in the afternoon. (In the afternoon is modifying

verb „will arrive‟)

A. Adjectival Phrase

These do the work of an adjective by qualifying nouns in sentences.

For example:

1. The woman with golden hair is my aunt.

2. The girl running down the steps seems to be in a hurry.

3. They ate at the restaurant near the gorge.

4. The guest brought by Mr. Macheso was rude.

5. The books on the shelves should be given away.

B. Adverb Phrase

Adverbial phrases do the work of adverbs by modifying verbs in sentences.

For example:

1. There is a river near the school.

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2. They talked in a lovely manner.

3. He left the place in a hurry.

4. We waited for him before his arrival.

5. We have been friends since our youth.

C. Noun Phrase

A noun phrase does the work of a noun in a sentence. Although this group of

related words may contain a participle or an infinitive, it is classified as a

noun phrase according to the function they perform in a sentence.

For example:

a. Reading newspapers is one of Kaponda‟s hobbies.

Function: Subject of the verb „is‟

b. To dance with you will be exciting.

Function: Subject of the verb “will be‟

c. To come with you would be a pleasure.

Function: Subject of the verb „would be‟

d. Catching grasshoppers is fun for children

Function: Subject of the verb „is‟

D. Prepositional Phrase

A group of words which begins with a preposition and ends with a noun or

pronoun, but which does not include a finite verb

For example:

1. The girl ran into the house.

2. I received a letter from my brother.

3. The uniform for the dance was bought in Blantyre.

It is called an adjective phrase when it does the work of an adjective and an

adverb phrase when it does it does the work of an adverb.

E. Verbal Phrases

A verbal phrase is a group of related words that contains a participle, a

gerund, or an infinitive.

For example:

1. Writing poems is my hobby. (Gerund Phrase)

2. We saw something floating in the water. (Participle Phrase)

3. I need something to wear to the dance. (An infinitive Phrase)

A verbal phrase is not a verb phrase. A verb phrase contains a main verb and one

or more auxiliary verbs.

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A. Infinitive Phrases

These can be used as noun phrases, adjective phrases or adverb phrases.

Infinitive phrases as noun phrases in subject positions.

For example:

1. To remain free is our goal.

2. To succeed in life is his ambition.

3. To come with you would be a pleasure.

Infinitive phrases used as noun phrases in object positions

For example:

1. I would like to know the truth.

2. Fortune wants to be a doctor.

3. The student wants to become a teacher.

Infinitive phrases used as noun phrases in apposition to a noun.

For example:

1. Your desire to help James is a good thing.

2. Her request to serve the country was granted.

3. His ambition to become a doctor will soon be realized.

Here the infinitive phrases, functioning as noun phrases, refer to the same thing as

the nouns beside which they have been placed. They are in apposition to the nouns

which precede them.

Infinitive phrases used as adjectives.

For example:

1. This is the way to draw a picture.

2. He gave me money to spend freely.

3. His ability to play a fast game was limited.

Infinitive phrases used as adverbs

For example:

1. They came to have a talk with you.

2. Cidreck went to Canada to study law.

3. Mpwaha was very eager to please everyone.

4. Mafuno went to Malembo to visit his brother.

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B. Participle Phrases

A participle phrase is a group of related words that contains a participle.

Participle phrases can be used as adjectival phrases.

For example:

1. The student smiling at us is my friend.

2. The guest brought by Mr Macheso was rude.

3. The man announcing the results is the chairman.

4. Singing happily, the boys marched along the road.

C. Gerund Phrases

A gerund phrase is a group of related words that contains a gerund.

A gerund phrase can be used as a noun and as an adjective.

For example:

1. Boys enjoy playing volleyball.

Function: Object of the verb „enjoy‟

2. Catching grasshoppers is fun for children.

Function: Subject of the verb „is‟

3. Caution in driving a car is essential for safety.

Function: Qualifying the noun „caution‟

4. Whipping students has been abolished in schools

Function: Subject of the verb „is‟

Exercise

A. Underline infinitive, participle and gerund phrases in the following

sentences and state their functions.

1. He tried to run away.

2. Careful reading is required.

3. Fishing for Chambo is his hobby.

4. To win a prize is an important thing.

5. I enjoyed spending holiday with my parents.

6. Running to her mother, the little girl began to cry.

B. State the type and Function of the underlined phrases

1. I want to become a teacher.

2. The dog without a tail is mine.

3. We read books about the west.

4. We will meet you later in the day.

5. Mary entered through the window.

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Phrasal verbs are usually two-word phrases consisting of verb + adverb or verb +

preposition. Think of them as you would any other English vocabulary. Study them

as you come across them, rather than trying to memorize many at once. Use the list

below as a reference guide when you find an expression that you don't recognize.

The examples will help you understand the meanings. If you think of each phrasal

verb as a separate verb with a specific meaning, you will be able to remember it

more easily. Like many other verbs, phrasal verbs often have more than one

meaning. As well as learning their meanings, you need to learn how to use phrasal

verbs properly. Some phrasal verbs require a direct object (someone/something),

while others do not. Some phrasal verbs can be separated by the object, while others

cannot. Review the grammar lesson on phrasal verbs from time to time so that you

don't forget the rules!

Most phrasal verbs consist of two words, but a few consist of three words, which

always stay together.

This is a list of about 200 common phrasal verbs, with meanings and examples.

ask someone out

invite on a date

Brian asked Judy out to dinner and a

movie.

ask around

ask many people the

same question

I asked around but nobody has seen my

wallet.

add up to

something

equal

Your purchases add up to $205.32.

back something

up

reverse

You'll have to back up your car so that I

can get out.

back someone up

support

My wife backed me up over my decision

to quit my job.

blow up

explode

The racing car blew up after it crashed

into the fence.

blow something

up

add air

We have to blow 50 balloons up for the

party.

PHRASAL VERBS

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break down

stop functioning

(vehicle, machine)

Our car broke down at the side of the

highway in the snowstorm.

break down

get upset

The woman broke down when the police

told her that her son had died.

break something

down

divide into smaller

parts

Our teacher broke the final project down

into three separate parts.

break in

force entry to a

building

Somebody broke in last night and stole

our stereo.

break into

something

enter forcibly

The firemen had to break into the room

to rescue the children.

break something

in

wear something a few

times so that it doesn't

look / feel new

I need to break these shoes in before we

run next week.

break in

interrupt

The TV station broke in to report the

news of the president's death.

break up

end a relationship

My boyfriend and I broke up before I

moved to America.

break up

start laughing

(informal)

The kids just broke up as soon as the

clown started talking.

break out

escape

The prisoners broke out of jail when the

guards weren't looking.

break out in

something

develop a skin

condition

I broke out in a rash after our camping

trip.

bring someone

down

make unhappy

This sad music is bringing me down.

bring someone

up raise a child

My grandparents brought me up after

my parents died.

bring something

up

start talking about a

subject

My mother walks out of the room when

my father brings up sports.

bring something

up

vomit

He drank so much that he brought his

dinner up in the toilet.

call around

phone many different

places/people

We called around but we weren't able to

find the car part we needed.

call someone

back

return a phone call

I called the company back but the offices

were closed for the weekend.

call something off

cancel

Jason called the wedding off because he

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wasn't in love with his fiancé.

call on someone

ask for an answer or

opinion

The professor called on me for question

1.

call on someone

visit someone

We called on you last night but you

weren't home.

call someone up

phone

Give me your phone number and I will

call you up when we are in town.

calm down

relax after being angry

You are still mad. You need to calm

down before you drive the car.

not care for

someone/somethin

g

not like (formal)

I don't care for his behaviour.

catch up

get to the same point

as someone else

You'll have to run faster than that if you

want to catch up with Marty.

check in

arrive and register at a

hotel or airport

We will get the hotel keys when we

check in.

check out

leave a hotel

You have to check out of the hotel before

11:00 AM.

check someone/

something out

look at carefully,

investigate

The company checks out all new

employees.

check out

someone/somethin

g

look at (informal)

Check out the crazy hair on that guy!

cheer up

become happier

She cheered up when she heard the good

news.

cheer someone up

make happier

I brought you some flowers to cheer you

up.

chip in

help

If everyone chips in we can get the

kitchen painted by noon.

clean something

up

tidy, clean

Please clean up your bedroom before you

go outside.

come across

something

find unexpectedly

I came across these old photos when I

was tidying the closet.

come apart

separate

The top and bottom come apart if you

pull hard enough.

come down with

become sick

My nephew came down with chicken

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something

pox this weekend.

come forward

volunteer for a task or

to give evidence

The woman came forward with her

husband's finger prints.

come from

somewhere

originate in

The art of origami comes from Asia.

count on

someone/

something

rely on

I am counting on you to make dinner

while I am out.

cross something

out

draw a line through

Please cross out your old address and

write your new one.

cut back on

something

consume less

My doctor wants me to cut back on

sweets and fatty foods.

cut something

down

make something fall to

the ground

We had to cut the old tree in our yard

down after the storm.

cut in

interrupt

Your father cut in while I was dancing

with your uncle.

cut in

pull in too closely in

front of another

vehicle

The bus driver got angry when that car

cut in.

cut in

start operating (of an

engine or electrical

device)

The air conditioner cuts in when the

temperature gets to 22ºC.

cut something off

remove with

something sharp

The doctors cut off his leg because it was

severely injured.

cut something

off stop providing

The phone company cut off our phone

because we didn't pay the bill.

cut someone off

take out of a will

My grandparents cut my father off when

he remarried.

cut something out

remove part of

something (usually

with scissors and

paper)

I cut this ad out of the newspaper.

do someone/

something over

beat up, ransack

(Br.E., informal)

He's lucky to be alive. His shop was done

over by a street gang.

do something

over

do again (N.Amer.)

My teacher wants me to do my essay

over because she doesn't like my topic.

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do away with

something

discard

It's time to do away with all of these old

tax records.

do something up

fasten, close

Do your coat up before you go outside.

It's snowing!

dress up

wear nice clothing

It's a fancy restaurant so we have to dress

up.

drop back

move back in a

position/group

Andrea dropped back to third place

when she fell off her bike.

drop in/by/over

come without an

appointment

I might drop in/by/over for tea some

time this week.

drop someone/

something off

take someone/

something somewhere

and leave it there

I have to drop my sister off at work

before I come over.

drop out

quit a class, school etc

I dropped out of Science because it was

too difficult.

eat out

eat at a restaurant

I don't feel like cooking tonight. Let's eat

out.

end up

eventually

reach/do/decide

We ended up renting a movie instead of

going to the theatre.

fall apart

break into pieces

My new dress fell apart in the washing

machine.

fall down

fall to the ground

The picture that you hung up last night

fell down this morning.

fall out

separate from an

interior

The money must have fallen out of my

pocket.

fall out (of hair,

teeth)

become loose and

unattached

His hair started to fall out when he was

only 35.

figure something

out

understand, find the

answer

I need to figure out how to fit the piano

and the bookshelf in this room.

fill something in

to write information in

blanks (Br. informal)

Please fill in the form with your name,

address, and phone number.

fill something out

to write information in

blanks (US)

The form must be filled out in capital

letters.

fill something up

fill to the top

I always fill the water jug up when it is

empty.

find out

discover

We don't know where he lives. How can

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we find out?

find something

out

discover

We tried to keep the time of the party a

secret, but Samantha found it out.

get something

across/over

communicate/make

understandable

I tried to get my point across/over to the

judge but she wouldn't listen.

get along/on

like each other

I was surprised how well my new

girlfriend and my sister got along/on.

get around

have mobility

My grandfather can get around fine in

his new wheelchair.

get away

go on a vacation

We worked so hard this year that we had

to get away for a week.

get away with

something

do without being

noticed/ punished

Jason always gets away with cheating in

his maths tests.

get back

return

We got back from our vacation last

week.

get something

back

receive something you

had before

Liz finally got her Science notes back

from my room- mate.

get back at

someone

retaliate, take revenge

My sister got back at me for stealing her

shoes. She stole my favourite hat.

get back into

something

become interested in

something again

I finally got back into my novel and

finished it.

get on something

step onto a vehicle

We're going to freeze out here if you don't

let us get on the bus.

get over

something

recover from

illness/loss/difficulty

I just got over the flu and now my sister

has it.

get over

something

overcome a problem

The company will have to close if it can't

get over the new regulations.

get round to

something

finally find time to do

something

I don't know when I am going to get

round to writing the thank you cards.

get together

meet (usually for

social reasons)

Let's get together for a BBQ this

weekend.

get up

get out of bed

I got up early today to study for my

exam.

get up

stand

You should get up and give the elderly

man your seat.

give someone

reveal hidden info

His wife gave him away to the police.

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away

about someone

give someone

away

take the bride to the

altar

My father gave me away at my wedding.

give something

away

ruin a secret

My little sister gave the surprise party

away by accident.

give something

away

give something to

someone for free

The library was giving away old books

on Friday.

give something

back

return a borrowed item

I have to give these skates back to Franz

before his hockey game.

give in

reluctantly stop

fighting or arguing

My boyfriend didn't want to go to the

ballet, but he finally gave in.

give something

out

give to many people

(at no cost)

They were giving out free perfume

samples at the department store.

give something up

quit a habit

I am giving up smoking as of January 1st.

give up

stop trying

My maths homework was too difficult so

I gave up.

go after someone

follow someone

My brother tried to go after the thief in

his car.

go after

something

try to achieve

something

I went after my dream and now I am a

published writer.

go against

someone

compete, oppose

We are going against the best soccer

team in the city tonight.

go ahead

start, proceed

Please go ahead and eat before the food

gets cold.

go back

return to a place

I have to go back home and get my

lunch.

go out

leave home to go on a

social event

We're going out for dinner tonight.

go out with

someone

date

Jesse has been going out with Luke since

they met last winter.

go over

something

review

Please go over your answers before you

submit your test.

go over

visit someone nearby

I haven't seen Tina for a long time. I think

I'll go over for an hour or two.

go without

something

suffer lack or

deprivation

When I was young, we went without

winter boots.

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grow apart

stop being friends over

time

My best friend and I grew apart after she

changed schools.

grow back

grow up

regrow

become an adult

My roses grew back this summer.

When Jack grows up he wants to be a

fireman.

grow out of

something

get too big for

Elizabeth needs a new pair of shoes

because she has grown out of her old

ones.

grow into

something

grow big enough to fit

This bike is too big for him now, but he

should grow into it by next year.

hand something

down

give something used to

someone else

I handed my old comic books down to

my little cousin.

hand something

in

submit

I have to hand in my essay by Friday.

hand something

out

to distribute to a group

of people

We will hand out the invitations at the

door.

hand something

over

give (usually

unwillingly)

The police asked the man to hand over

his wallet and his weapons.

hang in

stay positive

(N.Amer., informal)

Hang in there. I'm sure you'll find a job

very soon.

hang on

wait a short time

(informal)

Hang on while I grab my coat and shoes!

hang out

spend time relaxing

(informal)

Instead of going to the party we are just

going to hang out at my place.

hang up

end a phone call

He didn't say goodbye before he hung up.

hold someone /

something back

prevent from

doing/going

I had to hold my dog back because there

was a cat in the park.

hold something

back

hide an emotion

Jamie held back his tears at his

grandfather's funeral.

hold on

wait a short time

Please hold on while I transfer you to the

Sales Department.

hold onto

someone/somethin

g

hold firmly using your

hands/arms

Hold onto your hat because it's very

windy outside.

hold someone/

something up

rob

A man in a black mask held the bank up

this morning.

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keep on doing

something

continue doing

Keep on stirring until the liquid comes to

a boil.

keep something

from someone

not tell

We kept our relationship from our

parents for two years.

keep someone /

something out

stop from entering

Try to keep the wet dog out of the living

room.

keep something

up

continue at the same

rate

If you keep those results up you will get

into a great college.

let someone down

fail to support or help,

disappoint

I need you to be on time. Don't let me

down this time.

let someone in

allow to enter

Can you let the cat in before you go to

school?

look after

someone/

something

take care of

I have to look after my sick grandmother.

look down on

someone

think less of, consider

inferior

Ever since we stole that chocolate bar

your dad has looked down on me.

look for someone/

something

try to find

I'm looking for a red dress for the

wedding.

look forward to

something

be excited about the

future

I'm looking forward to the Christmas

break.

look into

something

investigate

We are going to look into the price of

snowboards today.

look out

be careful, vigilant,

and take notice

Look out! That car's going to hit you!

look out for

someone/somethin

g

be especially vigilant

for

Don't forget to look out for snakes on the

hiking trail.

look something

over

check, examine

Can you look over my essay for spelling

mistakes?

look something

up

search and find

information in a

reference book or

database

We can look her phone number up on the

Internet.

look up to

someone

have a lot of respect

for

My little sister has always looked up to

me.

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make something

up

invent, lie about

something

Josie made up a story about why we

were late.

make up

forgive each other

We were angry last night, but we made

up at breakfast.

make someone up

apply cosmetics to

My sisters made me up for my

graduation party.

mix something up

confuse two or more

things

I mixed up the twins' names again!

pass away

die

His uncle passed away last night after a

long illness.

pass out

faint

It was so hot in the church that an elderly

lady passed out.

pass something

out

give the same thing to

many people

The professor passed the textbooks out

before class.

pass something

up

decline (usually

something good)

I passed up the job because I am afraid of

change.

pay someone

back

return owed money

Thanks for buying my ticket. I'll pay you

back on Friday.

pay for something

be punished for doing

something bad

That bully will pay for being mean to my

little brother.

pick something

out

choose

I picked out three sweaters for you to try

on.

point someone/

something out

indicate with your

finger

I'll point my boyfriend out when he runs

by.

put something

down

put what you are

holding on a surface or

floor

You can put the groceries down on the

kitchen counter.

put someone

down

insult, make someone

feel stupid

The students put the substitute teacher

down because his pants were too short.

put something off

postpone

We are putting off our trip until January

because of the hurricane.

put something out

extinguish

The neighbours put the fire out before

the firemen arrived.

put something

together

assemble

I have to put the crib together before the

baby arrives.

put up with

tolerate

I don't think I can put up with three small

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someone/somethi

ng

children in the car.

put something on

put

clothing/accessories

on your body

Don't forget to put on your new earrings

for the party.

run into

someone/

something

meet unexpectedly

I ran into an old school-friend at the

mall.

run over

drive a vehicle over a

I accidentally ran over your bicycle in

the driveway.

run over/through

something

person/thing

Let's run over/through these lines one

more time before the show.

run away

rehearse, review

The child ran away from home and has

been missing for three days.

run out

leave unexpectedly,

escape

We ran out of shampoo so I had to wash

my hair with soap.

send something

back

have none left

My letter got sent back to me because I

used the wrong stamp.

set something up

arrange, organize

Our boss set a meeting up with the

president of the company.

set someone up

trick, trap

The police set up the car thief by using a

hidden camera.

shop around

compare prices

I want to shop around a little before I

decide on these boots.

show off

act extra special for

people watching

(usually boastfully)

He always shows off on his skateboard

sleep over

stay somewhere for

the night

You should sleep over tonight if the

weather is too bad to drive home.

sort something

out

organize, resolve a

problem

We need to sort the bills out before the

first of the month.

stick to something

continue doing

something, limit

yourself to one

particular thing

You will lose weight if you stick to the

diet.

switch something

stop the energy flow,

The light's too bright. Could you switch it

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off

turn off

off?

switch something

on

start the energy flow,

turn on

We heard the news as soon as we

switched on the car radio.

take after

someone

resemble a family

member

I take after my mother. We are both

impatient.

take something

apart

purposely break into

pieces

He took the car brakes apart and found

the problem.

take something

back

return an item

I have to take our new TV back because

it doesn't work.

take off

start to fly

My plane takes off in five minutes.

take something

off

remove something

(especially clothing)

Take off your socks and shoes and come

in the lake!

take something

out

remove from a place

or thing

Can you take the garbage out to the street

for me?

take someone out

pay for som1 to go

somewhere with you

My grandparents took us out for dinner

and a movie.

tear something up

rip into pieces

I tore up my ex-boyfriend's letters and

gave them back to him.

think back

remember (often + to,

sometimes + on)

When I think back on my youth, I wish I

had studied harder.

think something

over

consider

I'll have to think this job offer over

before I make my final decision.

throw something

away

dispose of

We threw our old furniture away when

we won the lottery.

turn something

down

decrease the volume or

strength (heat, light

etc)

Please turn the TV down while the

guests are here.

turn something

down

refuse

I turned the job down because I don't

want to move.

turn something

off

stop the energy flow,

switch off

Your mother wants you to turn the TV

off and come for dinner.

turn something

on

start the energy,

switch on

It's too dark in here. Let's turn some

lights on.

turn something

up

increase the volume or

strength (heat, light

etc)

Can you turn the music up? This is my

favourite song.

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turn up

appear suddenly

Our cat turned up after we put posters up

all over the neighbourhood.

try something on

sample clothing

I'm going to try these jeans on, but I don't

think they will fit.

try something out

test

I am going to try this new brand of

detergent out.

use something up

finish the supply

The kids used all of the toothpaste up so

we need to buy some more.

wake up

stop sleeping

We have to wake up early for work on

Monday.

warm someone /

something up

increase the

temperature

You can warm your feet up in front of

the fireplace.

warm up

prepare body for

exercise

I always warm up by doing sit-ups

before I go for a run.

wear off

fade away

Most of my make-up wore off before I

got to the party.

work out

exercise

I work out at the gym three times a week.

work out

be successful

Our plan worked out fine.

work something

out

make a calculation

We have to work out the total cost before

we buy the house.

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Cidreck Macheso’s Study Guide 2019. Cmkmacheso2@gmail.com +265 995 734 221

* You don‟t need to use „to‟ in these cases. Get in the car. Put it in the box. He fell in

the pool.

GROUPS OF PHRASAL VERBS

GROUP 1 : DIRECTIONS

breathe in

come in

fall in *

get in *

go in

move in

break in

get in

check in

log in

sign in

let __ in

put __ in *

Air goes into your lungs when you breathe in.

The President came in and everyone stood up.

The dog slipped and fell into the river.

He got in the car and drove away.

I‟m scared. I don‟t want to go in.

We will move into our new ﬂat next week.

Someone broke into my ﬂat and stole my TV.

Russians can‟t get into Europe without a Schengen visa.

You can check in any time after 14:00.

I can‟t log into my account. I have forgotten my password.

We have to sign in when get to work.

The security guard didn‟t let me in. I didn‟t have any ID.

Please put the cups in the cupboard.

_____________

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breathe out

fall out

get out

go out

keep out

move out

check out

sign out

cut __ out

get __ out

let __ out

take __ out

throw __ out

Air goes out of your lungs when you breathe out.

We have bars so that the children don‟t fall out of the window

They took the photo when she was getting out of the car.

Do you mind if I go out for a cigarette?

You should keep out of the forest. It is dangerous.

I want to move out of my parent‟s house when I get a job.

You must check out before 11:00.

We have to sign out when we leave the ofﬁce.

Draw three circles and cut them out.

My leg is stuck and I can‟t get it out!

Who let the dogs out?

It‟s my job to take out the rubbish

Please take everything out of your bag

Where‟s the bank? I need to take out some money.

We don‟t need this anymore. Let‟s throw it out.

_________

get up

go up

hurry up

ﬁll up

speed up

stand up

warm up

ﬁll __ up

heat __ up

pick __ up

put __ up

speed __up

turn __ up

I usually get up at 8am on weekdays.

I am lazy so I prefer to go up to the third ﬂoor in the lift.

I think prices will go up next year, so it is better to buy it now.

We will miss the train if you don‟t hurry up.

I need to go to the petrol station to ﬁll up.

You can speed up now - we are on a fast road.

Everyone should stand up when the President enters the room.

We sat by the ﬁre to warm up.

Pass me your cup and I will ﬁll it up.

If it is too cold you can heat it up in the microwave.

Please pick up all the toys and put them in the box.

We usually put up our Christmas decorations on the 24th.

I deleted lots of programmes to speed up my computer.

I can‟t hear the music. Please turn it up.

_________

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fall down

go down

lie down

sit down

calm down

cool down

slow down

calm __ down

cool __ down

knock __ down

put __ down

slow __ down

take __ down

turn __ down

After they were hit on 9/11 both of the Towers fell down.

I want to buy one but I am waiting for the price to go down.

I went down to open the door.

I want to lie down. I don‟t feel well.

Let‟s sit down. The food is almost ready.

When I gets less angry, stressed or scared I calm down.

I need to go outside to cool down.

Everyone slowed down to look at the accident.

We tried to calm him down before he did something stupid.

I‟m so hot! I need a drink to cool me down.

He wants to knock down my house to build a new one.

Put me down! I don‟t want you to carry me any more.

Please slow down the video - I want to look more closely.

We usually take down our decorations at the end of January.

The music is too loud. Please turn it down.

_________

get on

step on

hang __ on

have __ on

put __ on

try __ on

I usually get on the bus at this stop.

Be careful - don‟t step on any dog poo.

Can you hang these lights on the tree?

When I saw him he didn‟t have any shoes on.

He put on his coat and walked out.

Please put the glasses on the table.

I always try on clothes before I buy them.

__________

fall off

get off

jump off

take __ off

knock __ off

I broke my arm when I fell off my bicycle

Get ready! We need to get off at the next stop.

I was too scared to jump off the bridge with my friends.

He took off his coat and sat down.

The cat knocked the books off the shelf.

__________

get away

go away

run away

give __ away

put __ away

take __ away

throw __ away

The rabbit didn‟t get away from the wolf.

I want to go away for a couple of days. I‟m tired of this city.

The children ran away when the dog started barking.

I want to give away this furniture.

I always put away my winter clothes in April.

The police grabbed the man and took him away.

I had to throw away the tomatoes because they were rotten.

__________

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come back

get back

go back

bring __ back

call __ back

get __ back

give __ back

pay __ back

put __ back

take __ back

We‟ll miss you. Come back soon!

What time will you get back?

I will never go back there. It‟s a terrible place!

You can take it home but you must bring it back tomorrow.

I‟m busy now. Can you call me back later?

My camera has been stolen and I don‟t expect to get it back.

Borrow this pen and give it back at the end of the lesson.

When will you pay back the money I lent you last week?

When you‟ve ﬁnished put the book back where you found it.

I need to take these books back to the library.

_________

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

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OUT = all gone

be out of

run out

run out of

sell out

die out

go out

put out

I‟m sorry. We are out of time.

My battery is running out. I need a charger.

We ran out of time so we couldn‟t do all the tasks.

The tickets sold out within 30 minutes.

Mammoths died out more than 10 000 years ago.

The ﬁre will go out if you don‟t add some wood.

The ﬁreﬁghters worked hard to put the ﬁre out.

_____________

OUT = known, clear, understood, organised

ﬁnd out

turn out

ﬁnd __ out

sort __ out

ﬁgure __ out

point __ out

make __ out

Yesterday I found out that my friend is going to get married.

The test turned out to be easier than I expected.

I want to ﬁnd out more about it.

My life is a mess! I need to sort it out!

I have to sort out a lot of things for the wedding.

I have ﬁgured out a way to ﬁx it.

The guide pointed out lots of interesting things.

I can just make out the shape of a building in the distance.

___________

OFF = start moving

be off

run off

set off

take off

kick off

go off

set __ off

see __ off

I need to be off now. I can‟t stay any longer.

The children ran off when they saw the guard.

We set off as soon as it got light.

I am always a bit scared when the plane takes off.

The match kicked off at 15:00.

The ﬁre alarm went off so we had to stop the lesson.

If you smoke in the toilet it will set off the ﬁre alarm.

My parents came to the station to see me off.

___________

ON = working/happening, OFF = not working/not happening

be on

be off

be on

be off

go on

switch __ on

switch __ off

The lights are still on in the ofﬁce.

All the lights were off when I got there.

Is the meeting on tomorrow?

The game is off because the pitch is frozen.

There‟s always something going on in my town.

Oh no! I forgot to switch on the washing machine!

Don‟t forget to switch off the lights when you leave.

_________

GROUP 2 : SPECIAL MEANINGS

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put __ on

call __ off

put __ off

We want to put on a great show!

We had to call off the festival because of money.

I don‟t want to do something, I put it off until the last minute

_________

ON = forward (onward)

go on

get on

carry on

keep on

move on

come on

pass __ on

The man looked up and then went on reading his book.

My parents don‟t get on with my boyfriend.

Keep calm and carry on working.

I keep on forgetting that word!

Let's move on to the next task.

Come on!!! You can do it!

Can you pass on a message for me?

________

UP = in pieces

break up

split up

blow up

cut __ up

chop __ up

tear __ up

rip __ up

split __ up

blow __ up

He is depressed because his girlfriend broke up with him.

The Beatles split up in 1970.

Move away from the vehicle. It might blow up.

Take a piece of paper and cut it up.

Take a tomato and chop it up.

He said he was not interested and tore up the contract

She ripped up the letter and dropped it into the ﬁre.

If students can‟t work together it is better to split them up.

Bingu wanted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.

________

UP = not asleep

be up

wake up

stay up

wait up

wake __ up

keep __ up

I was surprised that the kids were still up when I cam home.

Wake up! Breakfast is ready!

I often stay up late at the weekend watching ﬁlms.

The boy‟s parents waited up until he came home.

My cat woke me up at 6am this morning!

Friends had a party yesterday and they kept me up until 2am

________

UP = in order

tidy up

clean up

wash up

make up

clear up

tidy __ up

clean __ up

Let‟s go to bed. We can tidy up in the morning.

It took us three hours to clean up after the party.

I cooked so you should wash up.

We can‟t make up until I believe that you are really sorry.

We always spend the last 5 minutes of the lesson clearing up.

I spend all my time tidying up mess that my kids make!

Nobody can leave until this mess is cleaned up.

________

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wash __ up

pack __ up

wipe __ up

I washed up the pans last time.

We packed up our tents and continued our journey.

Oops! I spilt some milk. Can you wipe it up?

________

UP = completely gone

be up

shut up

give up

take up

mess up

screw up

use __ up

give __ up

mess __ up

screw __ up

Our time is up.

Shut up and do your work.

I give up. I can‟t do it.

The sofa takes up half the room!

I know that I messed up. Can you forgive me?

I got ﬁred because I screwed up too many times.

I gave you three chances and you have used them up.

I used to smoke but I gave it up last year.

I had a test yesterday and I messed it up completely.

I gave you a chance but you screwed it up.

_________

DOWN = not working, UP = working

be down

break down

close down

shut __ down

set __ up

start __ up

The computer system is down so we can‟t do any work.

We were late because our car broke down.

The shop is closing down so they are selling for low prices.

Remember to shut down the computers before you leave.

Can you help me to set up a Wi-Fi network?

I want to start up my own business one day.

_________

NOTES

___________________________________________________________________

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Group 3 - Metaphorical Directions

pass away

get away with

My Grandfather passed away last week. The funeral is today.

I can‟t believe you got away with cheating in your exam!

________

get back to

I'll get back to you as soon as I have an answer.

________

let __ down

write __ down

look down on

I put my trust in you and you let me down. I can't forgive you.

Please can you write down everything he says?

Some people look down on others because they are rich.

________

ﬁll __ in

take __ in

hand __ in

get into

run into

Please ﬁll in the gaps with the correct form of the verb.

There was too much information for me to take in.

Please hand in your homework at the end of the lesson.

If you get into difﬁculty at sea you should call the coastguard.

You'll never guess who I ran into today in town - my teacher!

________

drop __ off

You have to pay K300 to drop off children outside the airport.

________

hold on

put __ on

I can't hold on much longer. I‟m going to fall!

If you eat a lot of cakes you'll put on weight quickly.

________

ask __ out

bring __ out

come out

carry __ out

cross __ out

drop out

eat out

give __ out

go out

go out with

hang out

read __ out

stand out

stick out

freak out

freak __ out

I was really shy at school and I didn't dare to ask any girls out.

I can't wait for them to bring out the new Simuda dance.

The ﬁrst Harry Potter book came out in 1997.

I want you to carry out all my instructions very carefully.

If you make a mistake, cross it out and write below.

I had to drop out of school because the course was too difﬁcult

I like eating out with my friends.

I feel sorry for people who give out leaﬂets in the street.

I like to go out at weekends with my friends.

When I was at school I went out with lots of girls.

At the weekends my son‟s friends often hang out at my house.

The teacher asked me to read out what I had written.

I wear unusual clothes so that I stand out from the crowd.

Be careful - your wallet is sticking out of your pocket!

I freaked out when the airplane started shaking violently.

Spiders freak me out. I‟m so scared of them.

________

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hang up

pick __ up

take __ up

throw up

look up to

warm up

He hung up before I had to explain. He was clearly very angry

I need to go to the post ofﬁce to pick up a parcel.

I‟ll pick you up from outside your house at 18:30 tomorrow.

I called three times but nobody picked up the phone.

I realised that I was putting on weight so I took up Yoga to get ﬁt

I was really ill yesterday. I threw up three times.

I really look up to my dad. He is an inspiration to me.

It‟s important to warm up before you do sports.

________

Group 4 - Random Particles

believe in

turn into

turn __ into

I believed in Earth‟s rotation until I was 19.

It's hard to believe that a caterpillar can turn into a butterﬂy.

Lucy can turn simple ingredients into great food.

________

go off

pay off

print __ off

show off

tell __ off

The chicken has gone off. We can‟t eat it.

I worked hard all year and it paid off - I did it in the exam.

I need to get to school early today to print off some papers.

I can‟t stand people who show off all the time.

I was a naughty child. Teachers used to tell me off all the time

________

work on

I am working on a couple of projects at the moment.

________

check __ out

chill out

fall out

I check out the new cafe - I've heard that the food is great!

I like to chill out and do nothing on Saturdays.

I‟ve fallen out with my wife. We aren‟t talking at the moment.

________

catch up

catch up with

come up

to end up

look __ up

make __ up

meet up

mix __ up

save up

Look how far ahead they are. We will never catch up.

It‟s hard for me to catch up with my class when I miss lessons.

I have to work hard because my exams are coming up.

I don‟t like it when people come up to me in the morning.

I only went into the shop and I ended up spending money.

If you don‟t know a word you can look it up in the dictionary.

My children are brilliant at making up stories

I‟m coming to Malembo next week. Let‟s meet up!

I always mix up two of the boys. They look really similar.

I am saving up to buy a new laptop.

_________

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set __ up

sign up for

take up

put up with

I‟ve decided to set up a meeting between my sister and my bro.

Lots of people have signed up for the free English course.

We had to throw out the old TV because it took up much space

I don't like my room but I'll put up with it. It's only for a week.

_________

Group 5 - Other Particles

go through

The railway goes through lots of tunnels.

____________

go round

There are bulls in the ﬁeld. Let‟s go round it.

____________

go across

go over

go under

go past

go by

go forwards

go

backwards

go along

come across

We went across the river by boat.

The road goes over the top of the mountain.

The river goes under the house.

The railway goes past lots of beautiful places.

Time goes by so fast!

Go forwards a little bit more and you‟ll be in the parking.

When I‟m driving I prefer not to go backwards.

The path goes along the river for 3km.

Yesterday I came across someone's phone in the street.

___________

run after

look after

name after

I ran after the man who took my phone.

Who will look after the cats while you are on holiday?

This building is named after the founder of the university.

___________

be apart

take __ apart

fall apart

When we are apart we call every day.

I like taking apart computers and putting them back.

My bicycle is really old - I‟m worried it might fall apart!

___________

look forward to

I am looking forward to my holiday next week.

____________

fall over

get over

go over

hand __ over

knock __ over

roll over

He has just started to walk, but he falls over all the time.

It took him three years to get over his divorce.

I have gone over this topic three times.

They ﬁnally handed over the money.

Be careful - don't knock over any of the glasses.

He rolled over and kissed her on the cheek.

___________

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stop over

take over

think __ over

turn __ over

turn over

We stopped over in Mangochi on our way to Machinga.

Peter Mutharika took over from Joyce Banda in May 2014

I'll think it over and get back to you in a few days.

Please do not turn over your tests until I say so.

The boat turned over in the storm.

___________

look around

get around

mess around

turn __ round

turn round

On the ﬁrst day we looked around the town.

I think the subway is the best way to get around the city.

Macheso gets angry when we mess around during lessons

It takes a long time to turn a big ship around.

I think we are going the wrong way. We turn round.

____________

get through to

go through

I called her three times but I didn't get through.

I went through a lot of pain and suffering to get this far.

____________

be together

get together

put __ together

get along

They have been together for three years.

My family gets together every New Year.

I took my radio apart but I couldn't put it together again!

My colleagues and I get along very well.

____________

NOTES

____________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

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REGISTERS

1. REGISTER OF LEGISLATURE

Act: A law that has been passed by Parliament

Ballot: The system of voting by marking an election paper, especially in secret, an

occasion on which a vote is held.

Bye-election: An election of a new member of Parliament to replace somebody

who has died or left Parliament.

Bye-law: A law that is made by a local authority and applies only to that area. A

law or rule of a club or company

Constituency: An area represented by a Member of Parliament in Parliament.

Constitution: The system of laws and basic principles that a state, country or

organization is governed by.

Democrat: A person who believes in or supports democracy.

Election: An occasion on which people officially choose a political representative

or government by voting.

Electorate: The people in a country or an area who have the right to vote.

Enact: To pass a law

Legislature: A group of people who have the power to make and change laws.

Member of Parliament: Honourable person representing a constituency in

Parliament

Motion: A formal proposal that is discussed and voted at a meeting e.g. the motion

was adopted by six votes to one

Nationalist: A person who wants their country become independent or a person

who has a felling that their country is better than any other.

Point of order: A question about whether the rules of behaviour in a formal

discussion/meeting are followed correctly

Poll: The process of voting in an election

Quorum: The smallest number of people who must be at a meeting before it can

begin or decisions can be made.

Reactionary: A person who is opposed to political or social change.

Referendum: An occasion on which a group of people are asked in an informal

way to give their opinion.

Running mate: A person who is chosen by the candidate in an election, especially

that for a president to support them and to have the next highest political position if

they win.

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Show of Hands: An occasion on which a group of people vote on something by

raising their hands.

Socialism: A set of political and economical theories based on the belief that

everyone has an equal right to share of a country‟s wealth and that the government

should own and control the wealth.

Speaker: A title of a person whose job is to control the discussion in

parliament/who gives talks or makes a speech.

Straw Poll: An occasion which a number of people are asked in an informal way

to give their opinion on something

Vote: An occasion on which a group of people are voted for e.g. they took a vote

on who should go first

Exercise

2. The Member of Parliament for our ______________ participates quite a lot in

the chamber.

3. Dr Banda is our next president after beating all the candidates in the ________.

4. The meeting has been called off after the members who were present failed to

reach a ____________.

5. The __________ of Lilongwe City Assembly says that no resident should keep

more than one at a time.

6. There will be a _____________ in Chamtulo South following the death of

Honourable Makweza last year.

2. REGISTER OF COMMERCE

Bankrupt: Not having enough money to pay your debts

Bankruptcy: The state when a person or an organization is bankrupt.

Cheque: A piece of paper printed by a bank that you can fill in, sign and use to pay

for things.

Credit: The system of buying goods or services and not paying for them until later.

Debt: A sum of money that you owe somebody e.g. he borrowed a lot of money

and he is still paying off the debt.

Delivery Note: A document that accompanies the goods to the buyer.

Discount: Reduction on the price of goods

Hire Purchase/Deferred Items: The buying of things through instalments

Insolvent: An ever-increasing debt balance that one even fails to pay.

Insurance: A contract in which, in return for regular payment a company or the

state agrees to pay a sum of money if something happens

Invoice: An official paper that contain the list of goods or services that you have

received and say how much you must pay for them.

Liabilities: Debts of all kinds Invest: To put money in a bank or use it to buy

property or shares in business

Liquidate: To close down business because it has no money left.

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Overheads: Money that a company must spend on things like salaries, heat, light,

rent etc

Premium: an amount of money that you pay regularly to a company for insurance

Retailer: a person or company who sells goods in a shop

Exercise:

1. Expensive goods are sometimes bought on________________________.

2. Their company has sold some vehicles in order to meet their _________.

3. Wholesalers often offer a special ___________________ in return for a

large order or early payment.

4. The company was declared ______________________ after failing to pay

Chilwa Manufacturing Company.

3. REGISTER OF ELECTRICITY

These are the words that pertain to electricity

Adaptor: A special type of plug that helps to connect more than one piece of

equipment to the electricity supply

Black Out: A period of darkness caused by a failure of the electricity supply

Disconnection: To remove the supply of power from a building.

Electrical appliances: All machines that use electricity. E.g. Record players,

Cookers, Iron, Kettles etc

Electrical Installation: Electrical equipment that is fixed into the house and is not

moved from place to place

Electrocuted: Killed by electric current

Flex: Lead (Wire), which is attached to an electrical appliance and allows one to

move the appliance about while it is still plugged into the socket.

Fuse: A special safety device which prevents fire arising in an electrical

installation.

Insulation: The covering of electric wires so that they cannot be touched directly.

Load shedding: The deliberate switching off of electricity to control the amount of

supply due to inadequate electrical power.

Load: An amount of electric power

Mains: A chief wire carrying electricity into a building from outside.

Meter: Keeps records of the amount of electricity that is used by the house.

Power Cut: A situation when there is no electricity available because ESCOM has

switched off the supply.

Serviceable Cables: Brings the mains supply in the house

Sockets: Power points into which one puts a plug.

Volt: A unit for measuring the force of an electric current

Voltage: Electrical force measured in volts.

Voltmeter: An instrument for measuring voltage

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Watt: A word used for measuring the amount of electrical power consumed e.g. a

50 watt bulb.

Exercise:

1. He bought a _______________ bulb.

2. The company has bought a _______________ transformer.

3. Do not step on live electrical wires for fear of being _________________.

4. The wires are electrically shocking because they are not ______________.

5. The electrical equipment has been _________________ in the orphanage

6. ESCOM is carrying out a ______________ campaign to those who have

outstanding bills.

7. The frequent ________________ are due to maintenance work at Tedzani

Hydro-Electric Power Station.

8. I am unable to listen to the radio because the ___________________

where the plug is put is out of order.

9. The _______________ prevent fire in an electrical installation when there

was a short circuit in the building

10. ESCOM will be carrying out maintenance work on their transformer and

is requesting all their customers to switch off their electrical __________.

4. REGISTER OF KILLING DEATH AND BURIAL

These are words that are concerned with killing, death and burial.

1. Fratricide: Murder of a brother

Genocide: Murder of the whole generation or race

Homicide: The act of killing a human being

Infanticide: Murder of new born child

Matricide: The murder of a mother

Parricide: The murder of a parent

Patricide: The murder of a father

Regicide: The murder of a king

Sororicide: The murder of a sister

Suicide: The act of killing oneself

2. Corpse: Dead body of a person

Deceased: Someone who has just died

Late: Someone who has just died

3. Mourn: To feel very sad because someone you love has died

Bereaved: Having lost a close friend or relative

Grieved: To feel extremely sad because someone you love has died

Condole: To express sympathy when someone has died

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4. Widow: A woman whose husband has died and has not married again

Widower: A man whose wife has died and has not married again

Orphan: A child whose parents have both died

5. Pall: A large piece of cloth spread over a coffin

Coffin/Casket: A large box in which a dead person is put

Shroud: A cloth that is wrapped around a dead person‟s body before it is

buried

6. Vault: A room where people from the same family are buried

Mausoleum: A large stone building containing many graves

Crematorium: A building in which the bodies of dead people are burnt at

a funeral ceremony.

7. Autopsy/Post-mortem: An examination of a dead body to examine the

cause of the death

Cremate: To burn the body of a dead person at a funeral ceremony

Embalm: To treat the body with chemicals/oils to prevent it from

decaying

Mummify: To prevent a dead body from decaying by putting some oils

on it and wrapping with a cloth

8. Grave: The place in the ground where the dead body is buried

Graveyard: An area or ground where dead people are buried often next to

church

Cemetery: A piece of land usually not belonging to a church where dead

people are buried

Tomb: A grave especially a large one above the ground

Obituary: An account in the newspaper about the life of someone who

has just died

9. Miscarry: To give birth to a baby too early for it to live

Still Birth: A birth in which the baby is born already dead.

Abort: To deliberately cause a baby to be born too soon so that it cannot

live

Lying in State: The time during which people can come and see the body

of someone such as king or president who has died to show their last

respect

Exercise

1. He committed _______________ by killing his own sister.

2. They _______________ for their children who died in the war.

3. Members of the Banda family are buried in this ________________.

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4. His dead body stayed for 100 years before it was _________________.

5. When she died her _______________ were buried in the United Kingdom.

6. Members of the clergy sent their ______________ cards to the bereaved family.

7. The _____________ on the tombstone showed that he died at the age of eighty.

8. After being impregnated she did not want to have the child, so she __________.

9. Mr. Banda was so poor that his body was buried in without a _______________

when he died.

10. When the doctor carried a (n) _______________ he discovered that the man

died of food poisoning.

5. REGISTERS OF HEALTH AND HOSPITAL

These are terms which have to do with health and hospital. The list of such words

is divided into four categories namely:

Specialists, Departments, Rooms and Disease conditions.

A. SPECIALISTS

Dentist: Specialised in teeth

Casuist: Specialised in casualty

Surgeon: Specialised in operation

Psychiatrist: Specialises in mental illness

Obstetrician: Assists women at childbirth

Dermatologist: Specialised in skin diseases

Oculist: Specialised in treating eye diseases

Gynaecologist: Specialised in women diseases

Paediatrician: Specialised in children‟s diseases

Pathologist: Specialised in analysing specimen

Radiographer: Specialised in X-ray photograph

Pharmacist: Specialised in administration of drugs

Orthopaedist: Specialised in bone/muscle diseases

Optician: Specialised in testing eyes and selling glasses

B. DEPARTMENT

Surgery: For X-rays

Radiography: For X-rays

Paediatric: Deals with Children

Maternity: Deals with pregnancies

Casualty: Deals with hurt or injured people or those who suddenly fall ill.

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C. ROOMS

Intensive Care: For critical illnesses

Theatre: Where operations are carried out

Laboratory: Where specimens are analysed

Wards: A room with beds for admitted patients

Mortuary: A room where dead bodies are kept before they are buried

Morgue: A room where bodies of people found dead are placed for

identification

D. DESEASE CONDITION

Contagious: If it can be spread through contact

Course: A series of medical treatments

A doctor prescribes medicines

A person admitted to hospital

One eradicates a disease i.e. to destroy completely

People are injured in accident and wounded in a war

Dosage: The amount of medicine taken at one time „A disease may be:‟

Dose: Measured amount of medicine e.g. a dose of quinine.

Endemic: If it is confined to a particular place

Epidemic: If it affects many people at the same place and time

Fatal: If it causes death Chronic: If it cannot be cured

Infectious: If can pass from one person to another either by air or by

water.

Pandemic: If it affects the population of a large area

Sporadic: If it affects widely scattered group of people

Exercise

1. Malaria is a difficult disease to __________________.

2. All sick children were sent to the ___________________.

3. AIDS is a ________________ disease since it has no cure.

4. My sick father is admitted __________________ this hospital.

5. After sustaining a fracture, Angela was sent for _____________.

6. This disease is ____________________ to the Northern Asia only.

7. Many people were _________________ during the First World War.

8. Please go and see the __________________ for your mental problems.

9. John is on the __________________ of tuberculosis drug for six months.

10. Mofolo has been put in the ________________ for he is critically ill.

11. It is better to follow the doctor‟s ___________________ if one is to be cured.

12. Mary had to consult the __________________ for her afterbirth complexities.

13. The _________________ had a long list of operations that he had to skip lunch.

14. Eliza sent her blood specimen to the __________ to find out if she has malaria.

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6. REGISTER OF LAW AND THE COURTS

These are words that pertain to law and the courts

Acquittal: An official statement in court of law that someone is not guilty.

If a person is found not guilty he/she gets acquitted and allowed to go free.

Appeal: To ask a higher law court to change the decision of a lower court

Barrister/Advocates: Lawyers who appear in court to present a case.

Charge: An official statement made by the police saying that someone is guilty of

a crime

One is charged with a crime

Civil Courts: Hear cases in order to settle private wrongs between two parties (a

party is one side in a dispute)

Civil cases deal with such matters as contracts, divorce and damage to property etc.

Commit Perjury: To commit a crime of telling a lie in a court of law

Convict: A person who has been found guilty of a crime and is sent to prison

especially for a long time

Conviction: A decision in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime

Coroner: An official who presides over an inquest

Criminal Courts: Hear criminal cases i.e. those that affect both the victim and the

public e.g. Theft, murder etc

Criminal proceedings: Preliminary hearing to decide whether or not a person will

be committed for trial

Cross-Examine: Put further searching questions.

Customary Law: A law which grows up by custom.

Damage: A certain sum of money that the defendant is requested by the judge in a

court of law to pay the injured party as a way of putting right the wrong done

Decrees: Laws made by a king or military ruler.

Defendant: The party that has to answer a case

Deposition: Evidence taken down in writing

High Court: Courts which are of higher level than ordinary courts

Indictment: Formal legal accusation (To indict is to charge a person formally with

a crime)

Injunction: An order given by a court which forbids someone to do something

Inquest: An investigation into a suspicious death

Judge/Magistrate: One who presides over court proceedings.

Jury: A group usually twelve people chosen to hear all the details of a case and

give their decision on it

Lawsuit: The process of bringing a party to court.

Magistrate Court: These are lower courts which hear minor offenses

Plaintiff: The party that brings a case to court

Pleads Guilty or not Guilty: When the accused has been charged with a crime

he/she can accept or denies the charge

Proceedings: Actions taken in the court of law

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Prosecution: The process of bringing a charge against someone for a crime

At trial, prosecution is conducted by Police, Attorney General or Director of Public

Prosecution

Prosecutor: A lawyer, who represents the person bringing a criminal charge

against someone in the court of law

Remanded on Bail: Granted bail

Remanded: Kept in prison

Revealed Laws (Sharia): Law ordained by God

Sentence: An order given by the judge who fixes a punishment for a criminal

declared to be guilty in court

The judge pronounces sentence, death penalty, a fine, a prison sentence (in years or

months)

To serve a sentence is to spend time in prison as a punishment.

Sue: To bring a party to court

Summary hearing: The trial of a minor case conducted by a magistrate in a lower

court

Supreme Courts: The top most important courts of Law

Trial: A legal process in which a court of law examines a case to decide whether

someone is guilty of a crime

One is charged with a crime

Tribunal: A special court set up to investigate a specific matter or to deal with a

certain type of case

Verdict: An official decision made by the jury in a court of law about whether

someone is guilty or not.

Warrant of arrest: A written permission from a court of law allowing the police

to arrest a person

Witness: Those people who give evidence intended to established the facts

Writ: An order to appeal before a judge or court

Exercise

1. Mr. Phiri is ______________ of murder.

2. The jury passed the _____________ of not guilty.

3. On what __________________ was Owen arrested?

4. The judge presides over the ____________ in a court of law.

5. The notorious thief is serving a five year prison _______________.

6. When Mr Phiri was found guilty of the crime, he was ______________.

7. John received a _______________ to appear in court for beating his wife.

8. His case of armed robbery was ___________ at Zomba Magistrate Court.

9. The judge read out the ________ given by the witness at the first hearing.

10. The court has issued a (n) _______ forbidding the teachers to strike again.

11. A (n) __________________ will be held into a suspicion death of the

popular musician.

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12. Kambewa was sentenced to six years _______________ with hard labour

for armed robbery.

13. The _______________ who brought a case of assault against her brother

decided to withdrawal it.

14. When the case would not be handled in the Magistrate court, it was

referred to the ____________.

15. The judge ordered the man to pay K50,000 as ______________ to the

injured party for defamation of character.

7. REGISTER OF PUBLIC PRESS

These are the words that pertain to publishing and the press.

Author: The one who writes a book.

Edition: The form in which the book appears.

Bookseller: One who sells books to the public.

Back Numbers: Older issues of the newspaper.

Publication: Any piece of writing that has been published.

News Items: Give facts about crime, meeting, corruption etc.

Printer: Prints the book according to the publisher‟s instruction.

Feature Articles: Are about something that is of general interest.

Press: People who write reports for newspapers, radio or television.

Editor: One who is responsible for the day to day running of the paper.

News-stand: A place on the street, at a station etc where you can buy newspapers.

Reporter: A person employed by newspaper, radio or television to collect news

for them

Journalist: Someone who writes news or reports for newspapers, magazines,

television or radio.

Mass Media: All forms of communication with the public on large scale e.g.

television, radio and the press

Editorials: Leading articles in which the editor makes his/her comments on social,

political or other matters

News Agency: Collects news and sells it to any newspaper that wants to make use

of its reports. E.g. Reuter

News Flash: A short item or important news that is broadcast on radio or

television often interrupting a programme

Impression: A fixed number of copies of any edition of a book that the publisher

instructs the printer to print.

Communiqué: A message or announcement made by statesmen after they have

held an important meeting in secret.

Newspaper: A set of large printed sheets of paper containing news, articles,

advertisements etc and published everyday or every week.

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Publisher: One who prepares the authors text for printing to print the book,

decides a price for the book, advertises it and arranges for it to be sent to

booksellers

Press Release: An announcement issued by any organization or a government

department as a way of informing the general through the newspaper about some

new development.

Correspondent: A reporter who collects news of certain kind for example sports

or who lives in a particular place and be responsible for sending news to the office

of the newspaper from the place where they live.

Exercise

1. Jonas is the _________________ of the book “Truth shall Prevail.”

2. The BBC __________________ who based in Rwanda was killed by attackers.

3. There are three ______________ of the same book published within five years.

4. The _______________ decided that the price of the book should be one

thousand Kwacha.

5. James asked to see ____________ of the Malawi News for August and

September in the school library.

6. The first lot of 10, 000 copies which the publisher instructed the printer to print

constitution the first _________

7. The ________ in today‟s issue of the Daily Times Newspaper comments on the

decline of discipline in schools.

8. The management of the company decided to ______ the existing vacancies in

the National Newspaper.

9. The Prime Minister invited the __________ to the conference which was held

at the airport after his arrival form Canada.

10. ESCOM issued a _____________ in the Saturday Nation Newspaper comments

on the on the decline of discipline in schools.

8. REGISTER OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Blurred: Being unclear

Double exposure: Two separate pictures on one photograph

Negative: A piece of firm from which we can make a photograph

Out of focus: Not properly focused

Over-exposed: Too light

Photograph: To take a photograph

Photographer: A person who takes photographs

Photography: The skill or process of taking photographs

Reel or firm: A round object that a firm is wound around

Snap: To take a quick photograph

Spool: A round object which a firm is wound around it when you buy

To load a Camera: To feed a camera with a firm

Under-exposed: Too dark

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Exercise

1. He loaded a _____________ into a camera.

2. He _______________ the dancers using his camera.

3. She explained to us how to ______________ photographs.

4. The photographer has _________________ a camera with a firm.

5. If you give me the ________________ I can have another print made.

9. REGISTER OF DRAMA

These are words pertaining to drama or any theatrical performance.

Acrobat: Someone who entertain people by doing difficult physical actions.

Actor: A male performer in a play/film.

Actress: A female performer in a play/film

Audience: People who watch a public performance

Audition: A short performance by an actor/actress that helps someone to judge and

decide if he/she is good enough to act a play

 One booes actors/actresses after a poor performance

 One applauds actors/actresses after a good performance

Auditorium: Part of the theatre where people sit when watching a play

Cast: Al the people who take part in the a play or film

Comedy: An entertaining play/film that is intended to make people laugh, having a

happy ending

Costume: clothes that actors and actresses wear when performing a play

Curtain Call: The time at the end of a performance when the actors come out to

receive applause.

Curtain Raiser: A short play acted before the main play.

Epilogue: A piece of writing added to the end of the book, play or film

Heroine: The most important female character in a play, film or story

Impromptu: Done without preparation or planning e.g. an impromptu play

Juggler: One who keeps several things in the air at the same time by throwing

them quickly and catching them again

Mime: To act using actions without language to show meaning

Opera: A musical play in which all the words are sung.

Playwright: One who writes plays

Prologue: An introduction to a play

Prompter: Someone who tells actors/actresses in a play the words to say when

they forget

Protagonist/Hero: The most important male character in a play, film or story

Scene: Part of the play often within an act during which there is no change of place

or time

Sketch: A short humorous scene on stage that is part of the large show

Stage: The raised floor in a theatre on which plays are performed

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Theatre: A building or a place with a stage where plays are performed

Tragedy: A serious play that ends sadly especially with death of the main actor

Typecast: To always give an actor the same type of character to play.

Villain: The main bad character in a play, film or story.

Exercise

1. The actor _______________ the movements of a chameleon.

2. Our play was just a ______________________ to the main play.

3. The ______________________ applauded as the play progressed.

4. Thoko‟s jokes were so bad that he got _________________ off stage.

5. The people who came to watch the play sat in the _________________.

6. Agnes received a prize for being the best __________________________.

7. Our drama group lost in the competition because they wore poor

______________.

8. The play was a ___________________ because people kept on laughing

throughout the play.

9. Stella failed the __________________ for the part of the Princess in the

play “The Ruthless King”

10. When the actor forgot his lines during the performance of the play, the

__________ reminded him.

10. REGISTER OF BUILDING

These are words pertaining to building

Architect: A person who designs/invests thee house

Brick Layer: The person who places each brick or block in position

Contractor: Anyone (or a firm or Company) who undertakes to do a job. In the

context of a building, it refers to the person who undertakes to build the house

Electrician: The person who installs all the electrical fittings in the house

Foreman: A person in charge of the building who is employed by the contractor

and directs the work of all the workmen on the site.

Foundation: Part of a house that is built below the level of the ground

Glazier: One who cuts glass needed for all the windows and puts it into the

window frames.

Joiner: A carpenter who does woodwork for a building e.g. Door Flames, Window

Flames and Roof Timbers etc

Joints: Timbers that support a floor or ceiling

Painter: One who paints houses.

Plan: A map of very small area such as a building site

Plasterer: The person who covers the bricks or blocks on the inside walls with

plaster.

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Plumber: The person who does all the work connected with water in the house.

I.e. Sink unit, toilets and water pipes

Rubble: The broken bricks and blocks when a building is demolished (Pulled

Down)

Scaffolding: A structure of poles (which may be wooden or metal) which is

erected on the inside of a building so that women can make a platform from which

they can continue the work of a building high above the ground

Site: A particular area of ground where a building is being erected

Surveyor: Measures the land/building and draws plans or maps of what he/she has

measured.

Exercise:

1. The building is going to be _______________ at this site.

2. He employed a (n) _________________ to rewrite his house.

3. They sent for the _________________ to put in the roof timbers.

4. The _______________ who designed this house was a very good one

5. The __________________ cannot start work while the plaster is still wet

6. We need the ________________ to fix windows into the window flames.

7. The contractor arranged for a ________________ to install the water

system in the house.

8. When the angry mob demolished the building the _________________

lay scattered all over.

9. Since none of the workmen on the site have been working properly, the

contractor appointed a new __________

10. The _____________________ has not done his work properly because the

course of the blocks is most uneven.

11. REGISTERS OF CHURCH AND RELIGION

These are words that pertain to church and religion

Atheist: One who does not believe in the existence of God

Blasphemy: To say profane language against God or anything holy

Cathedral: The principal church in the diocese

Clergy: The body of ministers ordained for the work in the Christian church

Congregation: A religion gathering, a group of people gathered together in a

church

Consecrate: To declare as holy in a special ceremony

Cult: An extreme religious group that follows a system of worship that is different

from an established religion

Deacon: A religious official in some Christian churches who is just below the rank

of a priest

Dean: The head of the Cathedral

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Diocese: The district under the jurisdiction of a Bishop

Hypocrite: Pretender who poses to be what he is not

Jihad: Muslim holy war

Lectern: A reading desk from which the scriptures are read

Monotheist: Believer in one God

Mosque: Muslim prayer house

Offertory: The money given by the congregation at a church service

Oracle: A shrine where a God or spirit speaks out to priest

Ordain: To make someone a priest or religious leader

Ordination: The ceremony at which one becomes a priest

Pastor: A Christian minister in some protestant churches

Pilgrimage: Muslim journey to a holy place

Polytheist: Believer in many Gods

Presbytery/Manse: The residence of the priest or minister

Proselyte: One who is converted from one religion to another

Quran: Muslim holy book

Ramadan: The ninth month of Muslim year during which no food nor drink is

taken between sunrise and sunset

Reverend: A title of respect used before the name of a minister of a Christian

church

Sacrilege: Violating/Profaning religious things

Sheik: The leader of an Arab village or family

Shrine: The main place of worship in traditional religion

Synod: A council of clergymen. An important meeting of church members to make

decision concerning the church

 Ceremonies are performed

 Rites are carried out

 Rituals are observed

 Sacrifices are offered

To consult oracle: To ask it for advice or information

Exercise

1. Muslims go for prayers at the _____________ on Friday.

2. My uncle will be _______________ as a pastor next week.

3. The worshippers of Nsinja Cult offered ______________ at the shrine.

4. The Bible is to the Christians as the ________________ is to the Muslims.

5. The Greeks were ________________ because they believed in many Gods.

6. He was suspended from the church for embezzling ___________________.

7. Our pastor hides in bars where he drinks beer. He must be a ____________.

8. It is required of every Muslim to go on a _______ to Mecca once in a while.

9. She consulted the ___________________ to find out what precautions to

take before the journey.

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10. The pastor‟s preaching was so touching that it attracted the attention of the

whole____________.

12. REGISTER OF MARRIAGE

These are words pertaining to marriage

Best Man: An unmarried man who attends the bridegroom at a wedding ceremony

Betrothal: An agreement that two people will get married

Bigamist: One who marries a second wife or husband while the legal spouse is

alive.

Bigamy: The practice of marrying a second wife or husband while the legal spouse

is alive

Bride: A woman about to be married or just married

Bridegroom: A man about to be married or just married

Bridesmaid: An unmarried girl who attends the bride at a wedding ceremony

Celibate: One vowed to single or unmarried life

Dowry: Property and money that a new wife brings to his/ her former partner.

Elope: To run away with a lover in order to get married secretly

Engagement: An agreement to marry someone. (One breaks off an engagement)

Fiancé: The man whom a woman is going to marry

Fiancée: The woman whom a man is going to marry

Misogynist: A man who hates marriage

Misogyny: The practice of hating marriage

Monogamist: One who has only one wife or husband at a time

Monogamy: The practice of having one husband or wife at a time

Polyandrist: A woman who has more than one husband at a time

Polyandry: The practice of having more than one husband at a time

Polygamist: One who has many wives

Polygamy: The practice of having many wives

Veil: A piece of material worn by women to cover their faces at weddings

Exercise

1. Jacqueline is my ___________________.

2. The man is a ___________________ because he has four wives.

3. Most Christians are ___________ because they do not marry many wives.

4. Although he is not a celibate he is still single because he is a __________.

5. When their marriage differences could not be resolved they decided to get

a ______________.

6. James and Mwayi will exchange _________________ vows at Bunda

CCAP Church next Sunday.

7. Joseph decide to __________________ his engagement to Jane when he

discovered her true character.

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8. This man cannot marry because he is a father in the Catholic church and

therefore underwent ____________________________

9. ___________ is not common in Malawian culture because no woman is

allowed to have more than one husband

10. When Romeo and Juliet realised that their love affair was disapproved by

both parents they decided to _____________________ to Mantua.

13. REGISTERS OF MILITARY

These are the words that pertain to the military

Ammunition: Bullets or shells that are fired from guns

Armistice: An agreement to stop fighting

Armoury/Arsenal: A place where naval or dangerous military weapons are made

or stored

Artillerymen/Gunners: Soldiers who fight in tanks

Battalion: A large group usually 500-1000 soldiers which consist of more

companies

Bayonet: A knife fixed on to the end of the gun

Besiege: To surround a place with the intention of capturing it

Brigade: A large group of soldiers usually 5000. Forming part of an army

Brigadier: A high military rank in the army

Calvary: Horse soldiers

Cannon: A large gun on an aircraft. It fires a shell

Capitulate: To surrender to an enemy on agreed terms. (To accept defeat by your

enemies in a war)

Captain: A rank in the Army

Colonel: A high rank in the army who usually command a battalion

Commander in Chief: The most senior officer in the military forces of a country

Commanding Officer: The officer in-charge of a fairly large group of soldiers e.g.

a company

Company: A group usually about 120 soldiers, usually part of a battalion or

regiment

Conscript: A person who is forced by law to become a soldier

Conscription: Compulsory enrolment as a soldier

Contingent: Any medium sized body of soldiers

Corporal: A low rank in the army

Detachment: Any group of soldiers working together as a team

Division: Part of the army larger than a brigade

Formation: All the soldiers who are moving together as one group

Garrison: A body of soldiers stationed in fortress to defeat it. (A fortified place

defended by soldiers)

General: An officer of a very high rank in the army

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Grenade: A small bomb out of which a pin is pulled out and thrown, exposed and

kills people

Infantry: Foot soldiers

Invade: To enter into a country as an enemy

Major: An officer of very middle rank in the army

Mine: An explosive that is placed just under the ground that explodes when a

weight is placed on it

Mortar: A weapon used for firing at soldiers who are nearby but hidden. It fires a

shell

Pistol/Revolver: Short guns with barrels used for firing at close ranges

Platoon: A small group of soldiers which is part of a company commanded by a

lieutenant

Recruit: A soldier recently enlisted for service

Regiment: A large military group commanded by a colonel

Rifle: A gun with along barrel of the infantry soldiers which is fired from the

shoulder

Rocket: A bomb or missile that is driven by gases burning inside it

Sergeant: A military rank next to the lowest

Squad: A small group of soldiers working together as a unit

Squadron: A military force consisting of a group of aircraft of ships

Troop: A group of soldiers usually on horses or in tanks

Unit: A small group of soldiers working together as a team

Exercise

1. A rifle is a suitable gun for the _______________ soldier.

2. The enemy soldier‟s _______________ the capital city of the country.

3. Most of the ordinary people died when they stepped on ______________.

4. This soldier is a ____________ because he is a week old in military camp.

5. This group should be ________ because there are about 120 soldiers in it.

6. The president is usually the ________ of all military forces of a country

7. Sergeant Mchiza is going to be promoted to a ________________ in a

few days to come.

8. Although the soldier was alone he managed to kill many people because

he used a ____________.

9. The battalion which came to protect our politicians was commanded by

_____________ Chilonga.

10. The rebel army was forced to surrender because their ______________

was destroyed by the enemy camp and had all their stored weapons

seized.

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BIBILIOGRAPHY

Best, W.D, The Student Companion, Essex, Longman, 1992

Chimombo Moira and Kholowa Foster, Senior Secondary Intergrated English, Student Book 4,

Macmillan, 2002

Chinodya Simmer, Step Ahead, New Secondary English Book 3, Longman, Zimbabwe, 1999

Eckersley, C.E and Eckersley, J.M, A Comprehensive English Grammar

Jika Kingsley, MSCE and GSCE Grammar, Chancellor College Publications, Malawi, 2000

Oxford Student‟s Dictionary for Learners Using English to Study Other Subjects

Ronald Forest, Revision English

Ogundipe P.A and Tregidgo, Practical English 4, Longman, London, 1976

The internet

Notes

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